Roal Glistering, a wealthy jeweler and very prominent political figure from Manehattan, had always done very well for himself.  He looked after those who adored him, especially that one stallion that looked back at him from the mirror each and every day.  His short, brown mane and bright purple eyes backed by a beige coat looked to the world like two beautiful gems amidst the dust and sand, and he certainly left a hoofprint with a similar impression.  Everywhere he went, ponies knew he was important.  He carried himself with his head high, chin turned up, and his opulence on display even though it wasn't quite as potent as he fronted.  He would scoff at the beggars, and only pay attention to those who clearly knew a little something about craftsmanship in their dress.  In fits of beautiful irony, he would always try to compete with those he admired, to drop them down beneath him and to feel better than they.

One instance in particular was, of course, during a bit of courtship on his part.  He always enjoyed escorting himself to fancy parties and gatherings, specifically with artists of any kind so that he could show them his own talent in, frankly, whatever field he wanted.  If he couldn't do, he could teach: he spent much of his leisure time professing pointless and undesired information about artwork, artists, sculptors, jewelers, writers, and philosophers of years long past.  Those that he bought his collection from were basically wrapped around his hoof, but those who simply enjoyed the media that he imposed himself on found his presence distasteful.  He did, however, meet the love of his life at such an event devoted in his honor.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts," began the announcer, eager to hush the clinking of glasses and silverware.  "This entire dinner, expensive as it was, all went to a very good cause, and I know you all contributed out of the kindness of your hearts for the unfortunate."  This prompted a bit of a unified stifled laugh from the audience.  They all had their reasons for the charity dinner, but nine out of the ten of them simply did so for a positive public view.  "It is, with proud distinction, that I introduce to you the most generous contributor of the entire event, Mr. Roal Glistering!"

As he was ushered in, Glistering took his spot at the podium and said his few words, all of which were directed into the audience like salt into a wound.

"My fellow ponies, thank you all for helping give me this opportunity.  I am so very glad all of you could make it here, tonight, because without you some slack jawed kids out there might not have something to nibble on tonight!  Goodness, we wouldn't want that, now would we?"  The light brown stallion, perfectly tailored suit and all, ended his question with a chuckle, waiting awkwardly for the uncomfortable audience below him to join in the laugh.  Only the nervous few coughs and feigned amusement trickled up, but he took the praise nonetheless and kept on delivering.  "Either way, everyone's donations helped bring us to the goal, but a distinct few of us helped in leaps and bounds while others only contributed baby steps.  No need to thank me."

Those that didn't know Glistering sat in awe at what he had just said, while those who had spent time in his presence before simply feigned an enthusiastic clap and went back to ignoring him any chance they got.  The self-righteous stallion left the dais and headed back to his privately reserved table, having to stop along the way after seeing somepony that definitely caught his attention.  Her coat was pitch black, her mane was just a shade away from purest white, and her eyes were some of the most beautiful amethyst that he'd ever seen.  She sat with flawless posture and poise, using exactly the correct manners to eat even though she was at a table all alone, and paid him absolutely no mind whatsoever.  The instant Glistering passed one of the wait staff, he ordered her food be transferred over to his table and that she was to join him.  Within only minutes, the black and white pegasus took a seat at his table, at least appearing delighted to do so.

"Pleasure to meet you, miss?"  Glistering held his hoof forward, taking hers and bringing it up to his lips only briefly.

"Margaret Antoinette Francis Alouette Pie, of the long forgotten 'Pie' royal family.  The only remaining bloodline, unfortunately, are those of the Duke and Duchess of Trottingham's rebellious great grandson who left to mingle with... Simple folk."  The strange pony responded, inspecting the back of her hoof as if it may have gotten dirty from the kiss.

"Margaret?  That's a strange name for a royal pony..."  Glistering cocked his head at the unusual gesture.  Most mares would swoon if he just glanced their way, or so he convinced himself.

"No stranger than Roal, that's for sure."  She looked back at him across the table, flashing a wry smile and replacing her hoof neatly under the table.

"You know my name?"

"Oh please, everyone in here knows your name.  Roal Glistering, born into nothing, made something of yourself just to spite your father and every other pony in your life that didn't believe in you.  I've always found rags-to-riches stories so... cute."  The black pony's mocking grin never went away, even as she spoke.

"If I had been able to choose my family I would have chosen the royal court.  Alas, fate doesn't pick favorites."  In his mind, Glistering found this to be a wonderfully witty comeback to the insulting way she was treating him.  He liked her already.

"Oh please, show me any pony in the world who wouldn't have been born into royalty if they were allowed to pick.  Some are, and some are not, and that's what separates us from the destitute.  Hard work is one thing, but security is another, and I'm afraid your money will run out the instant you can't see so well with those pretty little eyes of yours.  You're simply waiting to be poor again."

"How dare you!"  Glistering slammed his hooves down on the table and stood up, prompting silence from the entire room as every single head turned to listen.  "You know nothing of my work or of my health!"  

"I know everything I need to--"

"That's right, and that's nothing.  Your money has been handed to you your entire life, your body and soul have been spoiled, and you aren't worth the scraps you feed to the dogs because of it!"  Glistering's rage was making absolutely everyone in the room uncomfortable, even himself.  The black pegasus at his table, however, simply rested her chin on her foreleg and cocked her head to the side, continuing to smile through the storm.

"And just what does that have to do with anything, hmm?  I still have money, and I still bought six plates at this charity dinner.  Who cares if some little hayseed thinks I'm not worth what I feed my dogs?"

"Maybe nopony does care...  But I'm still better than you!"  This final act of anger culminated in a rudely thrust hoof, pointing in the white-maned mare's direction.  Everyone in the room stared on at the standing earth pony, awestruck at his overtly vain behavior.

"May I show you a magic trick?"  Margaret asked, almost as if she wasn't having the same conversation with Glistering that he was.

"What?"  The stallion was dumbfounded at the question, but before he could respond, the pegasus reached behind his ear and pulled away two antique gold bits.

"You see...  I make money appear, even from the poor.  You?  Well...  Money leaves you, and goes directly to the likes of me."  With that, the pegasus mare produced a very ornate velvet bag, dropped the two bits into it one at a time so that they loudly clinked against the already present pile of coins, then replaced it back under her wing.  "You say you're better?  I challenge you to prove it."

Glistering couldn't respond to such a rude statement, and in fact he had just been outdone at his own game so thoroughly that he could only stand at the center of a very embarrassing spotlight.  The other ponies whispered, judged, sent their hatred for him out in the form of veiled laughs and gossip, and the mare before him was to blame.

"Or..."  She said, stopping him from allowing another fit of anger to make an even bigger scene.  "You can recognize something for me, and we'll get along just fine."

"What's that?"  Glistering asked rhetorically, still not trusting her nor willing to let her beat him at anything ever again.  He was already thinking of ways to pay someone off to have everything she'd ever loved taken away.

"You're not half as great as you paint yourself to be, but with someone like me at your side... well... you could be perfect."

Forks and spoons dropped onto the various dishes above which they hovered the instant the black pegasus said this.  Something inside Glistering told him that she was right.  A wave of humility passed through him, and though it didn't take away his pride, it did show him how to better back it up.  Rather than fronting money that he never really had, he could take her rather crude offer, give himself fully to somepony that knew what she was talking about and finally become part of the royalty he had always dreamed of.  

The dinner ended and Glistering followed Margaret Antoinette Francis Alouette Pie (from then on she instructed him to call her Maggie) back to her home, passionately made love to her, even made an informal marriage proposal to be with her forever.  It would just be the two of them.

Glistering died at a fairly young age.  He hadn't spent much time with his love since she had spent so much time away on business, but he still managed to treat himself to as much of her money as he wanted.  His death was brought on by a light heart attack, something easily treatable if anypony were around to help him, but he hadn't exactly made many friends with his attitude.