Curtains open on a ornate bedroom. RARITY, unicorn princess, enters, dressed in an evening gown. She is followed by her maidservants, SURI and COCO.

SURI:

Truly in a night of glittering stars

None shined as brightly as you, milady.

This Gala will be spoken of for years,

With your beauty chief among its praises.

COCO:

Yes, where lesser ponies cast their wan light

As candles in the dimness of this eve

You alone dazzled; resplendent, shining

As the sun breaking through the silvered clouds.

SURI:

As the diamond among common boulders,

You bring deserv'd shame to their dusty hues.

Truly never has or will again be

Such a night rivalling tonight, mkay?

RARITY sighs and begins to remove her jewelry. COCO follows to assist.

RARITY:

I am hardly becoming of your praise.

The Gala is as it always has been,

Vain delight for the pleasure of peacocks.

I pay penance but find no joy within.

SURI:

No joy? Marry, milady speaks in jest!

Prestige and fashion follow your hoofsteps.

What of your friends, the ladies of the court

Overflowing in their adoration?

COCO:

Have you not spoken to us o'er and o'er?

The chains of friendship formed, truer than true.

Binding six hearts in closer union still

Than any earthly weapon can sever.

RARITY:

Would that I

RARITY:

Would that I were

COCO:

(Would that I were rid of—)

RARITY:

Would that I were rid of such so-called friends!

Chains, you say; chains of such steel and ironwork

That I stumble ‘neath their heavy burden.

I cry out for relief! For a freedom

From friends in name, but in character, foes.

Gems on the surface, ugliness below;

Robbers in silk and brocade, bearing arms

Of spite, avarice, shallow lust of fame.

They take, Coco. They take and leave me bare.

RARITY steps behind a dressing screen, showing only her silhouette. SURI assists as she changes out of her gown.

RARITY:

Am I a fool, Suri? Am I childish?

To long for a life of simplicity,

To be accepted on my own merits?

My station is that which shines as the sun;

My flame but a flicker, hidden in glare.

SURI:

Doubt is the provenance of the mighty,

And fear, the curse of those who excel most.

Sycophants insist on your attention,

but you overlook those who truly care.

RARITY:

Would that I shared your simple confidence.

SURI:

Truly, there are none?

RARITY steps out from behind the dressing screen, now wearing a simple silk shift.

RARITY:

There is one.

COCO:

Then place your faith in friendship genuine;

Do not allow your heart to falter now.

The deceit of the false bears rotten fruit,

Bitterness that falls upon their own tongue.

Drink from the clear wellspring of true friendship!

Thirst no longer, and soothe your wounded heart.

RARITY: 

Friendship yes, and perhaps something greater.

A tapping sound comes from the room’s window.

SURI:

Hark, a sound?

COCO:

From whence?

RARITY:

A mouse and nothing more.

RARITY yawns with deliberation.

RARITY:

Your kind wisdom has refreshed mine spirit

Yet in body I remain weary still.

Pray, allow me to retire early,

The better to face the morrow anew.

COCO and SURI nod and exit. RARITY pauses, waiting for the sound of their hoofsteps to fade away, then crosses over to the window.

RARITY:

And what manner of odd bird should this be?

A nightingale? But lacking in his song.

A raven, croaking dire warning to heed?

Come, sweet avian; reveal your plumage

RARITY opens the window, and SIR TRENDERHOOF enters.

TRENDERHOOF:

Tis but a magpie, milady, a thief

Attracted by the shine of your presence.

But never has this magpie seen the like

As that which lies before my lucky eyes.

They embrace.

RARITY:

Oh devilish creature, what shall you steal?

For you have already captured my heart.

TRENDERHOOF:

A peerless treasure by any account,

But I am incomplete, unsatisfied.

Your love is dearer still than life itself,

Yet I am left desiring something more.

RARITY:

Tell me, what boon do you seek? For surely,

All that I have I would give in your name.

TRENDERHOOF releases RARITY and stands to gaze out the window in contemplation.

TRENDERHOOF:

I do not doubt your generosity,

And I shall not impugn your character.

But what I seek is selfish, vanity,

That which is not mine to ever request.

RARITY:

Trender, tender lover, am I not yours?

While you are troubled, I shall find no rest;

Tell me, and if it be in my power,

With joy I shall answer your entreaty.

TRENDERHOOF turns to RARITY and kneels, taking her hoof.

TRENDERHOOF:

Then come away with me, sweet Rarity.

We shall leave this castle and its trappings.

Together we will weather life’s trials;

I will have no fear with you at my side.

Let us venture into the great unknown,

Leaving behind the things that hold us back.

Cast off the iron shackles of your old life!

Take my hoof, and let us begin anew!

RARITY:

RARITY:

TRENDERHOOF:

RARITY:

Yes, yes, a thousand times more and

RARITY:

TRENDERHOOF:

My love, does caution bind your silver’d tongue?

RARITY:

Oh, would that I could!

Would that I might go with you!

It tears at my heart, a pain beyond measure.

But by our very natures we are trapped.

Trapped in our destinies!

Trenderhoof raises a hoof, then lowers it. He gazes offstage for a moment before nodding slightly.

TRENDERHOOF:

I… I do not understand milady.

Of what destiny do you speak? Surely,

I have no greater master than your love.

RARITY:

But Sir Trenderfoot, even now you have been called to battle!

To defend this land and its people,

A noble goal of sacrifice and service.

I simply could not love a stallion

Who would put himself above his kinsmen

And so I am glad that I have you instead, Sir Trenderfoot,

The most loyal and noble of all ponies.

TRENDERHOOF:

TRENDERHOOF:

TRENDERHOOF looks offstage again before gazing at RARITY.

TRENDERHOOF:

Yes, for it was but an idle fancy,

Weakness in an insubstantial daydream.

I go from here to battle and the war,

And pray that you will await my return.

RARITY:

For ever and a day.

TRENDERHOOF:

TRENDERHOOF:

I must go.

TRENDERHOOF opens the window and exits.

RARITY turns to the audience, silently watching as the curtains close.

---

Curtains open on the throne room of Castle Unicornia. KING MAGNUM is seated upon his throne, goblet of mead in hoof. DUKE BLUEBLOOD and his hoofservant enter.

MAGNUM:

Is this guy dapper I see before me?

Ho, Blueblood! Come and share a drink, my friend

Sit and regale me with tales of your days

Though if whisper’d word in court holds truly

‘Tis your nights that all stallions must envy

BLUEBLOOD:

I fear such tales are rich in amusement

But destitute in their veracity

Hyperbole, most persistent in form

Fabrication and prevarication

...Except the one about the jacuzzi

KING MAGNUM glances from side to side before speaking in a hushed voice.

MAGNUM:

Then the story of two pegasi twins

And the great chocolate pudding fountain?

Blueblood winks.

BLUEBLOOD:

A gentleman reveals not his conquests

But no, no, a thousand times nevermore!

I have mended my ways, Your Majesty

In the spring of youth, I turn a new leaf

It is for this cause I come before you

Bowing in humility for a boon

MAGNUM:

I must say that I am flattered, my boy

But stallions aren’t to my tastes, as it were

And I hardly think Queen Pearl would approve

BLUEBLOOD:

Not that kind of turn! Not that kind of boon!

I fear you misunderstand me, my liege

It is not your favor I seek this day

But one that is undoubtedly yet close

MAGNUM:

Well, if it be Pearl, I do not approve

And you can take your intentions elsewhere

BLUEBLOOD:

Again you are mistaken, o wise king

Let me assure you my motives are pure

I seek one thing, not a tawdry affair

But the hoof of your daughter in marriage

MAGNUM:

...Sweetie Belle?

BLUEBLOOD’s hoof strikes his face as he grimaces.

BLUEBLOOD:

Your other daughter. The one who’s not eight.

MAGNUM:

Oh, of course! You wish to woo Rarity

My boy, that was a test. Which you have passed

BLUEBLOOD:

Truly you must be the wisest pony

Of all the kings of Unicornia

...Who happen to be in this room right now

Oh yes, little escapes the royal eye

MAGNUM:

I believe you mean to say royal we

Which we have always found too pretentious

BLUEBLOOD:

Regardless, it is Rarity I seek

Next Chapter: 5.1 Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes