The Grand Galloping Gala. Without question, it was the most anticipated even on the Equestrian calendar. A night where the upper echelons of Equestrian society can get together and rub elbows with the best of the best. A night that any pony, in any place, would dream of going to and experiencing. That is, that's what the Gala was in theory. In practice, however, it seemed that the reality did not quite live up to the dream. That was certainly what one mare in particular was going through right now. Disappointment, not only in the event itself, but for the one thing she'd come here for. The one stallion she'd hoped to meet ever since she got her chance to come. Prince Blueblood, nephew to Princess Celestia herself. Oh, sure, she'd managed to meet with him, and yes, the two were currently spending time together, but this stallion was far from the typical Prince Charming she'd imagined he'd be. He'd thus far been treating her like she was, at best, not there at all. But Rarity, ever hopeful that things could improve, once more attempted some pleasant conversation.

"I must say, it has to have been quite a life, living here in the royal palace, yes?"

Blueblood smiled briefly, but then looked away from her, focusing instead on his glass of punch.

"Oh, indeed. A fine place to grow up. Good for keeping out...undesirable individuals."

And there it was, the same dismissive attitude that Rarity had been putting up with all night. And of course, it took little imagination to figure out exactly who he'd been referring to. Still, she put up with it, grinning through gritted teeth as she attempted to remain as calm and polite as she could. After all, in spite of his flaws, he was still royalty, and also the one she'd idolised and fantasised about for some time. Surely, if she just said the right things, he'd come around. Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself.

"I've a fanciful notion, Blueblood. Perhaps we could stroll together in the gardens. I have a friend who has been simply dying to go there, so I imagine it's a lovely place to be."

Blueblood nodded, albeit briefly.

"Yes, yes, it's all very nice. Though you'll pardon me if it's hardly somewhere a stallion of my breeding wishes to spend his evening."

He paused, then looked to her distastefully.

"Besides, I'm sure you're probably going to be overwhelmed by the sight of it. All that high-class quality? Yes, it would certainty be too much for a pony so...so...unused to it."

That was the last straw. Rarity had put up with this guy for long enough, and now, she'd reached her limit. She stepped forward, eyes ablaze, opening her mouth and ready to unleash a torrent of comebacks against this beyond-rude stallion. But then, before she got the chance, she was stopped, for a familiar voice now called out to her.

"Rarity!"

Turning, Rarity saw that it was Twilight, walking towards her with a smile. Seeing that somepony she actually liked was getting close, Rarity smiled also, turning away from Blueblood and happily trotting towards her friend.

"Twilight! Darling! How goes your evening?"

Twilight chuckled nervously.

"Oh, you know, just wonderful. I mean, I get to spend all evening with Celestia...and all of those ponies who want to greet her...and also me...thus making it impossible for me to spend any meaningful time with her."

She'd sounded more and more bitter with every word, and Rarity briefly watched as her friend nursed one of her front hooves, as though it were strained. Putting two and two together, the fashionista offered her a sympathetic smile.

"Ah, I take it the Gala is not quiet as enjoyable as you hoped?"

Twilight sighed.

"It's just...I suppose I'll have to tolerate all this before I can do what I actually wanted."

Rarity nodded, understanding her position all too well.

"I know the feeling. Still..."

She grimaced, glancing over her shoulder slightly.

"...at least you're dealing with ponies who actually know how to be civil."

At first, Twilight didn't know what she'd meant by that, but then, she followed Rarity's gaze, seeing the one she stood beside for the first time. And here, something strange happened. For Twilight's face became one of recognition, and then, one that bore a genuine smile, and she spoke with the same tone one would when talking to an old friend.

"Oh! Blueblood! I'm sorry, I hadn't seen you there."

Rarity looked to her, taking a moment to suddenly remember that, as Celestia's student, Twilight would have undoubtedly met this stallion once or twice before. And so she waited, fully expecting Twilight to get the exact same poor treatment shed been getting all night. But then, instead of that, she heard something completely different.

"Oh, Twilight! I, er...well...I wasn't expecting you! I mean, I know my Aunt had invited you, but I wasn't expecting you to be here...with me...talking to me!"

Confused, Rarity turned around to look at him, and when she did, she was greeted by a most unexpected sight. Blueblood's prior demeanour of arrogance and dismissiveness was gone, replaced instead with a look that was far more nervous and uncertain. As soon as this stallion had seen Twilight, it was as if he'd completely transformed into somepony else, and now had no idea how to behave or what to say, even in a casual small-talk scenario.

"How've you been? I mean, I know you've been well, since Celestia always says so, and hey, you're always pretty fine anyway. Oh! I don't mean 'fine' as in...er...well...you're looking well."

Twilight, who was not as disturbed by this sudden change, smiled back to him.

"It's good to see you again. We should really talk more later."

She glanced to the side, grimacing.

"That is, after I've dealt with all those meet-and-greets with the Princess."

She sighed again, forcing a smile for the sake of the other two.

"Well, wish me luck. Oh, and I hope you two enjoy the rest of your evening."

Rarity, who was still thoroughly taken aback by that whole exchange, blinked a couple of times as her friend moved further and further away. After less than a minute though, when Twilight was no longer in view, Rarity could hear Blueblood's voice change again, as he cleared his throat and began to speak much as he did before, complete with that "I'm better than you" look he'd had on all night.

"Well then, shall we continue our little stroll? Dull though it may have been so far?"

He began to walk off, only to find that he was suddenly unable to do so. Confused, he looked behind himself, and saw that his tail was being held back by magic. Specifically, it was Rarity's magic, whom he now looked to with irritation.

"I say, Miss Rarity! What has gotten into you?!"

Releasing him, Rarity walked right up to him before pointing in the direction Twilight had walked off to.

"What's gotten into me?! What was all that about?!"

Realising what she was talking about, Blueblood looked away, his demeanour once more reduced to a less-than-confident one.

"I...er...don't know what you mean."

Rarity rolled her eyes.

"Oh, you know exactly what I mean! When Twilight was here, it was as if you were a totally different pony!"

She frowned to him.

"You have been treating me with utter disdain all evening, but then she comes along and all of a sudden your a nervous and bumbling..."

Then, she stopped. For as she'd said all of those things, it was as if a puzzle of a thousand different pieces was coming together in her mind. As she stood there, quietly, Blueblood looked to her, as though terrified she would actually put said pieces together. Sadly for him, that was exactly what now happened, and Rarity's eyes widened with shock as she looked him right in the eye.

"You mean...you...Twilight...?!"

She didn't finish, but the fierce blush that Blueblood now had on his cheeks made it clear that she'd managed to hit the nail right on the head.

"I...erm...well..."

Now, as a mare who had dreamed of being the fated romance with this stallion for a good chunk of her life, one would probably assume that she would be upset over this development. And yet, as Rarity allowed this new revelation to sink in, her expression was not one of anger, or disappointment or jealously, but rather thoughtfulness. As she continued to dwell on what she'd learned, and all that had happened to her tonight thus far, a whole new story began to play out to her. And when she realised this, her face slowly changed into a small smile, and she took a single step closer to him.

"The way you've been talking...the way you've been acting...that isn't really you, is it, Blueblood?"

Though the stallion, at first, didn't look to her, he eventually sighed, hanging his head, almost with shame.

"As a nephew of royalty, my name is known far and wide. Many, mares especially, hope to come and meet with me, or get to know me. But, given the reasons they want to do so..."

He glanced to Rarity, if only for a moment, before staring at the ground again.

"...I decided that it might be best to behave in such a way as to...well..."

"Deter them?" Rarity finished.

Blueblood did not answer, simply nodding his head in response.

"And the reason is because there was already somepony you wished to be involved with?" Rarity asked.

The stallion's blush returned.

"It's just...I've known her since childhood. She lived just a few doors down from me at the palace when she was studying with my Auntie. She was always so nice when we spoke and...and..."

"And pretty, perhaps?" Rarity concluded with a giggle.

Then, a new notion came to her.

"I say...you've known her for so long. Yet she seems completely unaware of this. You haven't actually told her yet, have you?"

Blueblood's head snapped in her direction, and he seemed aghast at the suggestion.

"Tell her?! I can't tell her! What if...what if she says no?! What if it causes her to never want to see me again?! What if...what if..."

He kept babbling like that for some time, and Rarity, if only briefly, took some measure of amusement in seeing him so utterly bewildered by the prospect. But, her better nature shined through, and she placed a hoof upon his shoulder.

"Darling, please listen. If you don't say anything, do you know what will happen? You're going to spend the rest of your life regretting it, asking yourself what could have been if you'd only taken that chance."

Her face softened.

"Is that what you want?"

Blueblood's silence, and the way he slumped his shoulders, was her answer. But while he wrestled with this difficult choice, there was still one thing he couldn't help but enquire about.

"You know, as a mare who was most likely pining for me for some time, you seem to be taking this whole matter very well. I mean, you're not angry with me from before and you're trying to hook me up with one of your friends?"

Rarity gigged, sweeping some of her mane aside as she did so.

"Well, let it never be said that I won't help along a hapless romance when I see it."

Then her expression became somewhat more sly.

"Also, let's just say I'm not quite as endeared to you now as I was at the start of this evening."

Blueblood's look of discomfort came back in full force.

"I see. Um...sorry about that."

Rarity shook her head.

"Not at all, old boy. Though you may want to work on learning to just say 'no' to ponies in future if that was your issue."

Blueblood tapped his chin.

"Huh...that would have been easier."

Rarity watched with bemusement at the hopeless stallion, and then, through the corner of her eye, she saw her. Twilight, once more given a reprieve from whatever terrible duties she and Celestia had been through. And as soon as Rarity spotted her, she smiled, nudging Blueblood to get his attention. As soon as the royal stallion saw that Twilight was nearby, he blushed again, bringing his voice to a whisper.

"I...I can't!"

Rarity gave a firm nod.

"Oh yes you can. Now..."

She pointed straight at Twilight.

"...you go and confess to your childhood crush this instant, young stallion!"

Blueblood knew he was stuck, but after a quick moment of inner turmoil of whether or not to go through with this, he mustered up what little courage he had, took a deep breath, and then marched on forward. Twilight, for her part, wasn't aware of any of this, and was instead resting her strained hoof on one of the many ice sculptures on one of the nearby confectionary tables. But, as soon as Blueblood was close enough, she looked to him, smiling.

"Oh, hello again, Blueblood. Everything alright?"

Blueblood was as still as a statue, save for one moment when he glanced back to Rarity. But the fashionista simply smiled, giving him an encouraging motion with her hoof, causing him to look back to Twilight. After a few deep breaths, the stallion finally spoke.

"Twilight...there's something I need to tell you."

It's a headcanon that I first came across shortly after I first joined the fandom, that Blueblood's reason for acting like he did was driven by a need to keep away all mares except the one he actually cared about. But while I haven't heard other fans talk about the idea in recent years, I'll admit to having occasionally thought about it, but never really getting it down as a story.

Well, figured it was time to change that