Ace

It was high noon and the Carousel boutique had been very quiet all day, all of the orders had been finished, the gem-chests were filled to the point of bursting so no gem-hunting was needed and Sweetie Belle out crusading with the rest of the CMC. And to top it off were Rarity in a complete designers-block so she was just sitting there, at her designers-table, bored to tears and chewing on a pencil...

*Ring*

''What was that?'' The white unicorn thought.

*Ring*

''I'm not imagining things now am I?''

*Ring*

The realization hit Rarity like a train. ''The doorbell! Coming!'' The unicorn sang. Finally something to pass the time, maybe it was a friend, or a new customer, she didn't care... ''Welcome to the Carousel Boutique where every creation is hip, chic and magnifique.'' She said with the door half-open.

''WOAH!'' A shocked voice shouted, it belonged to a bigger-than-average grayish-brown earth-pony stallion with a silver colored mane. He was dirty and bruised all over his body, Rarity saw that the tip off one off his ears was missing and she noticed a number scars covering his body.

''I beg your pardon?!'' The designer said, slightly offended by this sudden outburst.

''I'm sorry my lady'' The colt said, ''But when you haven't seen a mare in months seeing the most beautiful creature in Equestria can be quite a chock...''

''Oh'' Rarity said, a little surprised, ''Anyway, how can I help you today mister...?''

''My name is Ace, and how can you help me? You might not specialize in reparations but a prized possession of mine have been damaged.'' He paused to pull something out from his saddlebags, it was an old, dusty and worn black fedora with a huge hole running through it.

''Oh dear, how did this happen?''

''I'll tell you later, but please tell me, can you save it?''

''No problem dear, just let me work my magic...''

Later that day...

''Thank you for doing this'' The stallion said, ''I'm forever in your dept.''

''Do not worry darling, it wont be that expensive.'' The unicorn said with a smile.

The fedora had been repaired and In Ace's eyes, it looked better than the day he bought it, the huge hole had been fixed and there was no traces of the earlier damage, it had even been dyed into an darker shade of black and had a new ribbon.

''The problem is that I don't have any cash on me right now, so I hope this will cover all the costs.'' He gave Rarity a heavy looking bag made from rough cloth.

It was filled with golden coins...

Rarity could't believe her eyes, these coins where ancient, manufactured before the rule of Celestia, maybe even before the Discordian period.

''Nonononononono!'' Rarity protested, ''I cannot let you pay this much for a simple repair, you could buy a smaller house in Chanterlot with these.''

''What if I could be getting something in return then?''

''What in Equestria would that be?''

''Does a luxurious dinner with the must beautiful mare on earth sound like a fair deal?''

''I think I can arrange someth... oh.'' She said before she realized what he meant. ''Well, if you insist, meet me at the Dandelion & Rose at 9 am today.'' She said with a slight blush.

''Perfect, but there is one more thing, I can't go to a fancy restaurant in this condition, do you happen to now a place where I can clean myself a little?''

''Oh I know this wonderful spa, wait here and i'll get some bits to pay for the treatment.'' She left for a minute and returned with some bits and a plastic card. ''Here give them this and say that I sent you.''

''That reminds me, whats your name? Its cannot be Beautiful right?'' Ace said with a smile.

''Its Rarity darling.'' She smiled back.

At the spa...

Ace was in bliss, it had been weeks, maybe months since he had been this relaxed. And the spa twins noticed that. The second he mentioned Rarity's name they brought him into the V.I.P section of the spa. His coat had been groomed into perfection, his hooves that used to be jagged and worn were smooth as polished marble and every muscle not in his body was no more.

He thanked the twins and headed for The Dandelion & Rose.

And there she stood, she was wearing a black sweater and a red beret on her head, her mane was also straighter than before.

''Shall we go inside?'' He asked.

''So, what do you do for a living?'' Rarity asked, seeing Ace's Cutie-mark for the first as it was not covered by his saddlebags, an open map, a compass and a bag full of golden coins.

''Someponies call me an archaeologist, someponies call me an adventurer, I've even been called a thief, I hate when they call me that.

''Go on'' The unicorn said.

''But I prefer the term treasure-hunter. I search tombs and ruins for anything of value.''

''That explains the golden coins... That reminds me, what happened to your hat?''

''Let me tell you. I was exploring this old temple...

Later...

''And it swiped its paw at me, and it sent me flying. Luckily, I was flying in the direction I wanted to go. When I landed I got up on my hooves and started running...''

Rarity was completely lost in Ace's story, this stallion had been through more than 3 normal ponies. It was on par with the adventures she have had with the elements of harmony.

''It had me cornered, but it did the mistake at trying to hit me again... When all hope seemed to be lost I threw a rock, it landed directly on the pressure-pad. I instinctively closed my eyes. And the first thing I saw when I opened them was the manticore, pinned to the wall by huge spears emitting from the opposite wall. To my horror I also saw my dear hat hanging on a spear.''

''Manticores aren't that dangerous, I bucked on in the face once.'' She said proudly.

''Damn.'' Ace said. ''Beautiful, smart, funny and tough. And I used to say nothing was perfect.

''No need to exaggerate dear, I'm having a wonderful time, but your table manners could use some practice...

''I'm honest, you are perfect in my eyes, and silverware is not designed for earth-ponies.'' He said while trying to put a spoon of soup in his mouth.

''Here, let me help you with that.'' Rarity said with a grin and grabbed the spoon with her magic.

''You've got to be kidding me.''

''Say aah.''

''Its fine, I can do this.''

''Here comes the Pegasus.'' Rarity insisted.

''For the love of Celestia...''

Later still...

''... and then I snapped, shouted the truth right in his face, and threw cake allover his body!''

The two of them laughed together.

''Thank you Ace, this have been the best night ever.''

''No problem, I'm glad to meet somepony like you. Will I meet you tomorrow?''

''Of course dear, I would love to spend more time with you, meet me at the boutique in the morning. And before I leave...''

She leaned forward and kissed him.

''See you tomorrow honey!'' And she trotted away.

Ace, who had been near death dozens of times, and spat in the face of danger more times than he could remember, was shocked, he had just eaten dinner with the mare off his dreams, and she kissed him! No amount off ancient bits, no  priceless artifact, hell, not even the discovery of a long lost sister of Celestia would make him happier than he were in this moment. With a stomach full off butterflies he trotted off.