Vincent van Casanova Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Fashionably in Love

“Ugh… my head…”

Vincent groaned and rubbed his eyes when the morning sunlight woke him. When he had fully woken up, he found himself on a couch.

“What the-? How did I get here- Ow, my head!”

“Oh, good,” said a regal sounding voice, “You’re awake.”

Straight away, Vincent recognized that accent.

“Rarity?!” he exclaimed, “What am I doing in your shop-slash-home?”

“I was coming home from a nightly stroll and I saw you outside,” explained Rarity, “it would not have been ladylike of me to leave you our there in the cold. Why ever where you out there like that anyway?”

“Well, I was at some party with this mare Vinyl Scratch,” said Vincent, “for some bizarre reason, she began to flirt with me and I had a few drinks. So I left before she tried to take advantage of me and I passed out. I don’t recall what happened afterwards, really.”

“Vinyl Scratch actually flirted with you?” asked Rarity in surprise.

“So did Octavia and Fleetfoot.”

“My word, Vincent,” teased Rarity, “sounds like somepony’s quite the mare magnet!”

“I never intended to get them to fall for me!” protested Vincent, holding back on one of his wings as they had popped open.

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention,” added Rarity, “a friend of mine from Manehattan is coming later to help me with some designs.”

“Did you invite your little Spikey-Wikey?” teased Vincent. The Mane Six knew that was Rarity’s nickname for Spike, and hearing that from Vincent caused the white unicorn to blush madly.

“Well, it would be rather nice of him to come by,” she finally said.

“So you can cuddle with him until it’s time for him to go?”

Rarity blushed again. “Can I help it if he’s so adorable?” she asked.

Vincent rolled his eyes. “I wish that Sunset Shimmer would feel that way about me,” he said to himself, “if only I could find her.”

Just then, they heard a knock at the door.

Is it her? Vincent thought hopefully.

“I’ll get it,” called Rarity, already on her way to the door. When she opened it, there standing outside was Spike the dragon.

“Oh,” said Vincent with a hint of disappointment, “hi, Spike.”

“Spikey-Wikey!” Rarity squealed in delight as she embraced the little dragon in a hug, “Oh, it’s so good to see you!”

“I thought you might need some help with your clothes,” said Spike, “so I came over.”

“That’s very generous of you, Spike.”

“Thanks,” the little dragon blushed. Rarity then began to cuddle Spike. Vincent watched, snickering to himself.

“I’m surprised she hasn’t asked Spike to marry her yet,” he said to himself. Just then, there was another knock at the door. Rarity was too busy flirting with Spike to hear it.

“I’ll get it,” said Vincent. He opened the door and found a cream colored Earth mare with a bright blue mane and tail in a neat style.

“Excuse me,” said the mare, “but is Rarity here?”

“Oh, she’s over there,” said Vincent, pointing to Rarity still cuddling Spike, “she’s a little occupied with her little boyfriend at the moment.”

“Oh, I see.”

Just then, Rarity looked up towards the mare.

“Coco!” she cried cheerfully, “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“Indeed,” said Rarity, “Vincent van Colt, this is Coco Pommel.”

“Hello, Ms. Pommel,” he said politely, “pleased to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Vincent,” said Coco.

Soon, Coco began to help Rarity with her designs and Spike helped with whatever he could. At the moment, Vincent was talking with Coco.

“So you used to work for Suri Polomare?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Coco, “but she was a mean liar; she even took advantage of Rarity’s generosity in a fashion show and tricked her so she wouldn’t win.”

“That is so mean-spirited of her!” remarked Vincent, “To think that I once thought she was a nice mare…”

“You knew her?”

“Back when Fictionary and I initially moved to Manehattan,” explained Vincent, “I accidentally bumped into Suri one day, and we dated for a period, yet I never asked her to be my special somepony.”

Then the bug from earlier hovered down towards Coco while they were distracted and bit her.

“Ow!” she exclaimed, “I think something bit me.”

“What bit you?” asked Vincent.

“I don’t know,” said Coco, and when she looked up into Vincent’s eyes, her eyes went pink and purple and she had her own fantasy…

***

The scenery had turned into a large stadium where a fashion show for stallion models was being held. Coco was sitting hopefully in the crowd, waiting for somepony she wanted to come out next.

“And now, on to our final contestant,” announced Prim Hemline, “Mr. Vincent van Colt!”

From behind the curtain came Vincent; he wore a light green army suit with reddish-orange trimmings and black shoes. His manestyle was drastically different and he had a walrus mustache. Coco felt her heart skip a few beats; the rest of the audience roared with applause.

“It looks as if we have our winner.” Prim Hemline presented Vincent with a trophy. “Congratulations, Mr. van Colt. Your outfit is quite amazing.”

“Thank you, Ms. Hemline,” smiled Vincent, “but I could not have done it on my own.”

He then turned towards the crowd. “Coco, my dear. Would you please come forward?”

Coco stepped out from the crowd and approached Vincent.

“Coco Pommel here is the one who made this outfit for me,” said Vincent, “I wouldn’t have won without her.”

Several audience members went “aww” as the two then embraced in a loving hug.

***

When Coco came to her sense, she found herself hugging a rather puzzled Vincent.

“Um, Ms. Pommel? Would you mind telling me why you’re hugging me so affectionately?”

Coco realized what she was doing and quickly let go, blushing furiously.

“Sorry,” she said meekly.

Later in the day, as Coco was helping Rarity with her designs, Vincent was on his way home when he ran right into Rainbow Dash, as well as Fluttershy, Butterscotch, Watermelody, Song Cue, and Heartsong.

“Oh! Sorry, again!” remarked Vincent.

“There you are, Vincent,” said Song Cue, “we were wondering where you went.”

“Well, I needed to get away from that crazy Fleetfoot.”

“Well, since she ran off,” said Rainbow Dash, “I got to fill in for her.”

“She did a Sonic Rainboom,” said Heartsong, “it was so amazing; I’d never even seen one that up close before!”

“And then Soarin hugged her,” added Watermelody teasingly.

“No, he didn’t!” protested Rainbow Dash, trying to hide her blush and wings.

Vincent simply chuckled. “So, he showed you some affection, did he?” he teased.

“And before that, she even kissed him,” added Butterscotch.

“I didn’t!”

“So you’re finally being brave about your feelings,” chuckled Vincent, “just a shame I had to miss all of that. I was so busy looking for Sunset Shimmer, and then two more mares started flirting with me.”

“Who?” asked Fluttershy.

“One’s this DJ called Vinyl Scratch, and the other’s a mare from Manehattan called Coco Pommel.”

“Coco?” asked Fluttershy, “The mare we met in Manehattan who was once Suri’s helper?”

“The same.”

“What do you mean, she was flirting with you?”

“Well,” said Vincent, “she stared into my eyes and then started hugging me affectionately for some reason.”

“And what about Vinyl?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“I… don’t really remember all Vinyl said,” said Vincent, “but she gave me some sort of flirty look and I think she even called me ‘baby’.”

Rainbow Dash laughed her flank off (not literally, as it would’ve been strange). “Sounds like somepony’s quite the mare magnet,” she teased.

“But none of those four mares were the ones I wanted as my special somepony!” said Vincent, “I wanted it to be Sunset Shimmer; I’ve nearly spent all of yesterday looking for her and I keep coming up empty hoofed. It just isn’t fair!”

“Oh, don’t be upset, Vincent,” said Watermelody, putting a comforting hoof on her friend’s shoulder, “I’m sure you’ll find her soon.”

“Yes, you really shouldn’t give up,” added Song Cue, “it never does anypony good to quit from their goal.”

Vincent looked downwards and dragged his front hoof on the ground and kicked it about. After a few seconds, he looked up at his friends.

“You’ve got a point,” he said at last, “but what if I never find her?”

“Oh, never say never,” said Fluttershy, “you just need to keep hoping and be patient.”

Everypony looked over at Fluttershy in amazement.

“Those were some good words of wisdom,” remarked Heartsong.

“Yay, aunt Fluttershy,” said Butterscotch, hugging Fluttershy, who returned the hug.

“Aww, that’s so cute,” said Song Cue.

“Well, I think I’m going to get something to eat before I do anymore searching,” said Vincent, “nice talking to you.” And he trotted off home.

“Bye, Vincent,” said Watermelody, “hope things go well with you.”

Vincent had managed to get home to the Metrostallion House of Art after his exhausting day and was looking forward to his elevenses when he spotted Fictionary.

“Oh, hey little sis,” he said, “I’m home… finally.”

“Hi, Vincent,” said Fictionary, “how did the concert go? You didn’t come home last night and I wondered if you were okay. What took you this long?”

“While at the concert,” explained Vincent, “a cello player named Octavia flirted with me and asked me to dinner. Then I went to a Wonderbolts Airshow and one of them named Fleetfoot flirted with me as well. Not too long after arriving back in Ponyville again, I went to an evening party and that DJ mare Vinyl Scratch flirted with me too. And that morning, Rarity’s friend Coco hugged me.”

Fictionary stared for a moment or two, and then she broke out into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” asked Vincent.

“For one not too thrilled with having a marefriend, you sure know how to win them,” laughed Fictionary.

“I barely even know all four of them!” protested Vincent.

“Well, they sure want to know you,” Fictionary teased.

Vincent just rolled his eyes. “Fictionary, you are so cheeky.”

“I know; thanks for noticing.”

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“I wonder who that could be,” said Vincent as he headed to the door. He opened it to find Coco standing outside blushing with a package.

“Um, hi,” she said meekly.

“Hello, Miss Pommel,” said Vincent, “how may I help you?”

“Please, don’t be so formal, Vincent,” said Coco, “you can just call me Coco.”

“Oh. Sorry, Miss- Er, Coco.”

“I know it’s a bit of a surprise seeing me,” said Coco, “but I couldn’t stop thinking about you while I was helping Rarity and Spike. So I made you a little present.”

She gave him the package. Vincent was puzzled, but he didn’t question Coco as he opened the package. In it was the suit he wore in Coco’s fantasy. Along with a pillow that had them nuzzling in a heart.

“Er, thanks,” said Vincent, rather awkwardly.

Suddenly, Coco slowly started getting closer to Vincent.

“Uh, Coco?” he asked nervously, “What are you doing?”

“I think your new marefriend wants to give you a kiss,” Fictionary sang cheekily.

Coco was now inches away from kissing Vincent. But before she could do so, she pulled back quickly and covered her face with her hooves.

“I can’t do it!” she cried, “It’s so embarrassing!”

“Aww,” Fictionary groaned in disappointment.

“I should really go,” said Coco, taking her leave.

“Well, that was weird,” said Vincent after Coco had left.

“I was really hoping you two would kiss,” said Fictionary.

“Fictionary,” said Vincent, petting his sister’s head, “you are so cheeky.”

“You already told me that. Anyway, did ya find Sunset Shimmer?”

“I thought I did,” said Vincent, “but everywhere I went, she wasn’t there. I was even going to consider giving up.”

“You? Giving up? Never!”

“Fluttershy and Song Cue gave me advice not to either,” said Vincent, “and they’re right. I’m just going to rest up from my escapades before I go back to searching.”

“I’m glad they did,” said Fictionary, “because giving up is never the right solution to anything.”

“Right you are, little sis,” said Vincent, and he gave his little sister a hug.