"So…why did you agree to this again?" Blade asks Rage who was adjusting the collar on a fancy suit he had on. The crimson alicorn had his mane combed and styled, and looked as nice as he probably had ever been. "It's bad enough you're in an upscale hotel in a city as far from Ponyville as possible…"
"I owed Rarity a favor." Rage says as he finishes making sure everything was as perfect as he could get it. "Plus, I kinda wanted to see what this Manehattan place was all about."
"I know that but going to a dinner party with her? Let alone a high class one?" Blade asks "You barely know anything about upper class behavior!"
"She said as long as I keep my mouth shut everything will be fine." Rage sighs "Besides, no better time to learn. I'll probably end up mingling with most of them eventually right?"
"You're not worried about ponies getting the wrong idea either are you?" Blade asks.
"Not at all. They should see that I am going as a friend…" Rage says, shaking his head. "Besides…most ponies already think Twilight and I are a thing…" he comments with a nervous chuckle.
"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask about that one too…" the dragon grumps "You're not worried she could actually have feelings for you?"
"You're kidding right?" Rage chuckled "Twilight having feelings for me? Please, she'd say something if she did. Besides, why would she fall for somepony as simple as me?"
"You'd be surprised." Blade shrugs "But don't sell yourself short, you have saved their lives a few times. Some find that attractive." He got ready to roll into a follow up question as a knock was heard at the door. Rage walked out to the door of the hotel room and opened it. Rarity stood there in an elegant blue dress.
"Oh you look simply amazing!" She exclaimed as he answered "You should dress up more often…" she said flirtatiously.
"Thanks?" the crimson Alicorn replied in confusion.
"It's a compliment, don't be so offended." Rarity chuckles. "Now come on, we're late." she says, grabbing his hoof and pulling him with her.
Rage sighed as he was brought along with her. They went through the hotel and out to a small carriage that awaited them. A black stallion in a suit let them in and shortly after they were off.
Rage was a bit taken back by the shock of everything. The carriage being drawn by other stallions felt odd to him. Plus it all felt a bit too…posh for him. "Rarity…uh…is this…ethical?" He asks slowly,
"Whatever do you mean?" She asks him, tilting her head in confusion.
"The carriage. Doesn't it seem…unethical to have other ponies drawing them…?" He asks.
"Oh Rage you're funny." Rarity chuckles "They're paid to do it. Did you not see the plethora of taxis?"
Rage paused to think about it. He hadn't really paid attention when they first arrived in Manehattan so he shook his head and then looked out the window of the carriage. Sure enough there were yellow coaches by the hundreds being drawn by ponies.
"Wow…" he says "The congestion almost reminds me of Central City traffic…"
"Is that a place on Mobius?" Rarity asks him.
"Yeah, it's a city. Probably the biggest on Mobius. It's home to close to...I wanna say four million? Give or take?" Rage says. "Infamous for bad traffic. Perks of having what essentially amounts to super powers means I can fly over it all."
"MILLION?" Rarity exclaims in shock "That's insane! Manehattan is only home to maybe 150,000…I think."
"Yeah, the place is packed. Though I don't get to go there very often... " Rage sighs thinking back to his first ever adventure. "First time I was there I was there to stop Nix…"
"You think we'll ever get to see Mobius?" Rarity asks him.
"Someday." Rage smiles. "I just want to make sure it's the right time…"
"Mmm well hopefully it's soon. I'd love to see where you grew up." Rarity says as they stop. Shortly after the door to the carriage opened and the stallion in the suit assisted Rarity out and Rage.
After getting out Rage used some magic to pull a handful of bits from a small bag he had and gave them to the stallion who looked a bit surprised. He bowed his head. "Mighty kind of you, Prince Rage." He said.
"It's—" Rage tried to object to the title but the pony was already gone. "…just…Rage." He finished saying to nobody now.
Rage sighed and turned before stopping and looking in awe at the great mansion before him. It was huge, maybe not the size of Canterlot Castle but still, a large place like this meant whoever was hosting this event was not only rich but probably very well known.
"Rage, if you could do me a favor…" Rarity says as they walk towards the door.
"What?" He asks her.
"While we're here, don't shy away or correct ponies if they address you as Prince…" she requests. "We are meeting very rich and upper class ponies. Many I know so they expect a certain level of class…they'd see it as rude if you correct them."
"But Rarity…if they get that idea then…eventually everyone will think I am a prince…I'm just an Alicorn because of my powers…" he rebukes. She gave him a cold look and he felt her cold gaze break his stubbornness and he sighed and nodded. "Alright…" he agrees.
"Thank you. Now remember what I said. Greetings and let me do the talking." She says as they reach the door and two guard ponies let them in.
"Welcome to Blue Manor Miss Rarity." One of the guards says as she enters. Then Rage behind her and the guard stood more upright. "Prince Burning Rage, it is an honor!" They say "Apologies we were not aware you were Miss Rarity's plus one."
"It's alright." Rage says with a soft smile "Seeing a Royal Guard here is a bit of a surprise."
"Of course, The Bluebloods' Banquet is always staffed by Royal Guards due to the amount of nobility and famous ponies in attendance." The guard replies "However if we have you here I don't think we have anything to worry about, should something happen."
"Thank you but I plan to try and enjoy myself." Rage chuckled.
"Of course! My apologies I didn't mean to imply anything." The guard says apologetically.
"It's alright." Rage smiled, "Don't work too hard now." He says as he continues in and catches up with Rarity.
"Did you know him?" She asks Rage.
"He seems familiar." Rage says "I think he's the guard who brought me this outfit back when I attended the meeting with Haakim and Amira."
"Small world." Rarity chuckles as they are met by a tall, white unicorn with an elegant blonde mane. He had a tuxedo on and called to Rarity.
"Rarity!" He says cheerfully. "I am so glad you could make it!"
"It's nice to see you again, Prince Blueblood." She says bowing her head. "I'd like for you to meet my—" she began to introduce Rage but was interrupted as the unicorn bowed himself.
"Prince Burning Rage." He says with a bow "It is a pleasure to meet you formally. I have heard many great things from my aunt, Celestia."
"It's nice to meet you…" Rage says bowing his head in greeting. "I am sorry to say, I haven't heard much about you."
"I see." Blueblood says with a frown "I guess that's understandable. You have likely been busy with the protection of Equestria…if I can be frank…is it true?"
"Is what true?" Rage asks.
"Well…there are rumors that…you may not be…you know…" Blueblood answers nervously. "Related to the royals…many are thinking you're much like Princess Twilight."
Rage paused and thought carefully on how to answer. He thought of an old conversation with Celestia as well as to what Rarity had said. He looked at her and she appeared nervous. "I mean…I may have distant ties." He finally says. "However it's…complicated and Princess Celestia has requested I not speak on the matter until she can verify something."
"Verify what exactly?" Blueblood asks more in a more accusatory tone.
Rage shrugs in response. "Dunno, I'm sure she has a reason for being so secretive though." He replies.
Blueblood was silent for a minute and nodded "That is true. She keeps plenty of secrets even from her sister and I." He says "Anyway, I hope you can enjoy yourself. I understand you're still getting used to being around the nobility."
"Oh-ho-ho-kay…let's go Rage I am getting a bit thirsty aren't you?" Rarity interrupts as she pushes the crimson alicorn away.
"Uh…I guess?" He says in a confused tone.
"How rude of me. I shouldn't have kept you. Go! Enjoy yourself." Blueblood says bowing. "Perhaps we can catch up some more later and you can tell me more about yourself? Perhaps you could tell me what you know about…Mobius was it?"
Rage looked a bit shocked to hear Mobius being mentioned. But he nodded and Blueblood smiled as he was dragged off by Rarity. After she was sure they were a solid distance from Blueblood she looked at Rage with an upset glare. "What did I say?!" She grumps.
"What? I thought I was doing alright…" Rage says with a shrug.
"Well…I guess but you have to be careful around Blueblood. He may be Celestia's relative and Prince in name but that's all it is for him. He's got no authority." Rarity says "…and he resents many of the Alicorns because he thinks that him not being an Alicorn is the cause of his lack of any real authority."
"Excuse me…?" Rage asks.
"Look just…keep your head down…" Rarity sighs. "I need this to go well for me…"
"Then why even invite me?" Rage scoffs. "You know this is all alien to me. I've no clue how to mingle with upper class folks!"
"Because if I didn't bring a plus one I'd be looked down upon and I'd be given weird looks if I didn't bring a stallion." She answers. "I need this to go well so I can try and get a spot in Manehattan's big fashion show coming up."
"Then why not ask another stallion?" Rage sneers "I mean surely there were others…I feel like you just brought me because you know most ponies assume I am royalty just because of my whole situation."
"It was you or Big Mac." Rarity says. "And most ponies think you and Twilight are a couple so they'd assume you were here as a friend, meanwhile had I brought Big Mac they'd assume I'm dating him…plus how do you think most of these rich folk would take to someone like Big Mac…?" She asks. Rage looked a bit less hostile upon hearing the alternative. He thought a minute about the disaster that could have come if Big Mac had been here instead of him.
"Oh…" Rage nods "Yeah…I probably would have done the same." He smiled. "Though I am gonna get to the bottom of these rumors about Twi and I."
"Well hold on to that thought." Rarity says as another white stallion approaches her. This one had a blue mane and a monocle. Along with him was a white unicorn with a fancy pink mane.
"Ah Miss Rarity, it is quite nice to see you again." The stallion says. "I was just telling Miss Fleur de Lis here how I was looking forward to seeing your latest in this year's Manehattan Fashion Week. You are planning to be there this year right?"
"Oh! Of course!" Rarity says with a nervous chuckle. "I can't wait to finally show off my latest work!"
"I can't wait." Fleur de Lis said with a smile as their eyes fell upon Rage.
"Who is this fine young man you have with you now?" Fancy Pants asks, turning to the crimson alicorn. He looked Rage up and down.
Fleur de Lis gasps in shock recognizing Rage almost immediately from when she saw him during the ceremonies after the Crystal Empire was saved. "Burning Rage…or I guess it's Prince now huh…?" She says looking at his wings.
"Burning Rage?" Fancy Pants says with a hint of shock in his voice. "I'm sorry I don't believe we have met. I am Fancy Pants." He says extending a hoof for a hoof shake.
Rage looked at Rarity and paused before she signaled him to go on and greet the stallion. Rage cleared his throat as he gave a firm shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Fancy Pants." He says.
"A firm shake!" The unicorn compliments. "I hope Miss Rarity can find a fine stallion such as yourself someday. Do tell Princess Twilight that she has my thanks for what she did with Tirek when you return. She should know what I'm talking about.
"Of course." Rage nods as the two ponies look back to Rarity.
"Miss Rarity." Another stallion approached her "Your presence is requested by Miss Prim Hemline. Can you please come with me?"
"Prim Hemline?!" Rarity says in a starstruck voice. Almost immediately after the guard who Rage had spoken with at the entrance tapped him on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, Prince Burning Rage? Prince Blue Blood is requesting you." The guard says and Rage nods.
"Oh…uh…alright." Rage says looking at Rarity. "Hey, Rarity, I guess Prince Blue Blood wants to talk to me…?"
"Oh uh…" Rarity looked at the stallion who was to take her to see Prim Hemline. "I am sure you can handle yourself right? Shall we meet back up come dinner?"
"Okay…" Rage nods looking at the Guard Pony and they take him upstairs and to a rather fancy office room where an Earth Pony was exiting. He tipped a hat at them in greeting as Rage entered.
Inside Prince Blue Blood was looking at a bust of King Cosmos. "I thought there was something familiar about your outfit, Rage." The unicorn says as the guard closed the door leaving them alone. "I'm guessing Celestia gave that to you?"
"Yeah." Rage nods as he affirms Blue Blood's suspicion "It was…all they had for me when Saddle Arabia's dignitaries came. However I am sure you didn't bring me here over an outfit…what do you want?"
"I wanted to speak to you regarding Princess Twilight." He says. "Rumors have it you two are together."
"Yeah…?" Rage replies more so questioning what he had been told.
"Assuming they are true, why would you come with Rarity?" Blue Blood asks. "You are not planning to break one, or both of their hearts…are you?"
"Blue Blood, I am here purely as a friend to Rarity and nothing more. As to your rumors, they are simply that. Rumors." Rage replies. "You have nothing to worry about."
"That's good. I may not be the best of friends with them but still...they mean a lot to Celestia and I wouldn't allow anything that could upset them go unanswered."
"I understand." Rage says nodding. "Now, may I ask you something?"
"What?" Blue Blood asks.
"How do you know about Mobius? What do you know?" Rage asks. "Outside of the tales and legends."
"Little." Blue Blood answers "I just know you have been there and that there is allegedly history between Equestria and Mobius." He says turning to the window in the office. "So tell me, Princess Celestia never actually named you a prince…did she?"
Rage sighs "No. Officially I act as an ambassador for Celestia and do other tasks as needed. It was her idea of getting me more acquainted with how things work." he admits "I also did not want either title." When he said this Blue Blood looked at him in surprise. "Ponies have been calling me one out of what I can only assume is a habit. See an Alicorn, they're royalty. Normally I correct ponies but Rarely asked me not to during your banquet because she claims it would be rude to do so."
"I see." Blue Blood nods "I appreciate you being honest. As for that Prince matter, regardless of Celestia's appointment and your own feelings, I for one, think you have earned the recognition. I may have heard of what really happened with Tirek, Sombra and even Discord. You did more than you let on. So tell me, why not bask in the glory of such achievements? Most ponies would revel in being considered such a close friend to Princess Twilight or to be on Celestia's short list of reliable ponies. I mean you're practically able to be a celebrity if you wanted."
"I'm not one for all of the attention." Rage shrugs. "I protected my friends and that's it. Why are you so interested in me anyway?"
"Call it curiosity. I heard a lot about you from other ponies so I wanted to get an honest answer from you and Rarity seemed so protective of you like she's afraid of you being here. I knew I had to get you alone to get to know you. Sorry for taking so much of your time Prince Burning Rage." Blue Blood says.
"Please, it's just Rage." The crimson alicorn smiled.
"Very well, Prince Rage." Blue Blood smiled.
"Close enough." The alicorn sighs as they exit the office together.
"It's about time for dinner. I do hope you and Rarity stay." Blue Blood says.
"I'm here as long as she is." Rage shrugs. Blue Blood chuckled. "Besides, I am a bit famished. Between Rarity rushing to make sure I knew how Equestria's Upper Class was and well...the trip here? It's been a lot."
"You're gonna get along with us just fine." He says, leading Rage to the dining room. "Just keep up the refined attitude and be courteous. Most of the ponies here know you're not exactly used to this kind of lifestyle yet." As they entered his eyes scanned the room, so many of the ponies there he didn't recognize but they all had that haughty look that was common among the upper class. Finally he found Rarity with an older dark gray mare with a pink mane.
As Rage walked up to Rarity he caught the end of the conversation. "…you should try it." Rarity said to the mare.
"I'll definitely consider it." The mare says looking to the approaching Alicorn. Her eyes fixated on his attire not even paying any mind to the pony wearing it. "My, my, your attire seems a bit dated." She says critically "I wasn't aware Cosmian Royal was trying to make a comeback."
"Uhhh thanks?" Rage says, not exactly sure what else to say as she got a bit closer to him.
"Unless…" She looked at his outfit closer.
"Uhhh Miss Prim Hemline I think you're making him a bit uncomfortable." Rarity says.
"This is…authentic?" Prim asks in shock. Finally she looked Rage in the face and her eyes went wide. "And it fits a stallion such as yourself!" She says in praise.
"Uhhh…Prince Burning Rage, meet Prim Hemline." Rarity pipes up.
"It's a pleasure." Rage says, bowing his head.
"Likewise." She says with a bob of her head "Did Rarity help you with that?" She asks.
Rage paused and looked at Rarity briefly before shaking his head. "No, unfortunately what I had ordered from her wasn't quite done in time. This is something gifted to me by Princess Celestia."
"I see. Hopefully I can see it soon then. I must take my leave. It was nice to meet you." Prim says with a nod before she walks off.
"Was she who you were pulled off to talk to?" Rage asks.
"Of course! Prim Hemline is one of the most famous fashion designers in all of Equestria! She even judges Manehattan Fashion Week!" Rarity exclaims. "She wants me to participate again this year!"
"Sounds like quite the opportunity." Rage says as she looks at him with a new interest as they sit down at the table.
"It is…" She says with a sigh "However, I don't have any idea on what I'd even present…"
"Rarity, you were born to be a clothing designer. I'm sure whatever you decide on will be the best in show." Rage says as they are both handed plates of food. Rage gave a nod to the mare who had served him in thanks and the mare looked at him before bowing their head and walking off briskly.
"You're right." Rarity says with a more confident voice. "Thank you."
The two ate their meal and both chatted with ponies next to them and each other. As Rage was finishing up however a Royal Guard Pony approached and nudged him. Rage looked back to see a tall, white pegasus dressed in the armor of the Royal Guard of Equestria, a different guard than the one he had spoken with earlier. The pegasus bowed before they spoke. "My apologies for bothering you, Prince Burning Rage, however Princess Celestia requests your presence in Canterlot at once."
Rage sighed and looked at Rarity and then to Prince Blueblood who was a few seats from him. "My apologies but I must take my leave. I am needed in Canterlot. I am told it is urgent." he says to both Rarity and Blueblood.
"Oh what is it?" Rarity asks and Rage shrugs signaling he wasn't sure.
"A shame to see you leave early Rage." Prince Blueblood says with a frown. "However, it can't be helped. A summons from Princess Celestia isn't something you ignore. Thank you for coming all the same."
With Blueblood's words there were some murmurs among the other ponies in attendance as Rage excused himself and walked from the dining hall and back out of the front door with the Pegasus next to him. "I can find her in Canterlot Castle I presume?" Rage asks the guard who nodded. Rage thanked them and sighed as his horn glowed with magic. "No rest for the wicked as they say huh...?" he says to himself as with a flash of a dark purple magical aura he was gone.