After a long day at the flower shop, Morning Glory had to run some errands. As she exited one shop, she caught sight of Clever Clover slipping out of a jewelry shop across the street. �Hm, that�s odd. Clever Clover isn�t into jewelry. I wonder what he was doing in there.� She trotted across the street but Clever Clover had already disappeared around the corner. �Well, I suppose I could ask the jeweler what he was up to.�
Just as Morning Glory was about to open the door, the jeweler, Pearl, began to lock up for the night. Morning Glory tapped on the glass. �Excuse me, can I ask you a question?�
Pearl opened the door. �Um, could you make it quick? I�ve got a lot of work to do before I can go home, and I�m already dead tired.�
�Oh, of course! I was just wondering what that purple stallion who just left was doing here.�
�Clever Clover? He helps me authenticate antique pieces I acquire from time to time. But today he asked about some prices before he left.�
�And what was he pricing?�
�Engagement rings. I think they just caught his eye, though, on his way out. He laughed when I told him the prices.�
�Thank you, and good night.�
�No problem.�
As Morning Glory walked home, she contemplated what Pearl had told her. �There can only be one reason he would be pricing engagement rings! But I wonder who he plans to give it to?� She hadn�t planned to stop by Clever Clover�s house that evening, but now she just had to talk to him. She stopped by her own home first to drop off some things, then went on to Clever Clover�s. She was greeted at the door by Minoko.
�What do you want?� the pirate grumbled.
�I had hoped to talk to Clever Clover.�
�Well, he�s out. Said he might be late, had some important business to take care of. So you can be going now.� Minoko began to close the door, but Morning Glory blocked it with her hoof.
�Maybe I could have a word with you then?�
�Wha? You want to talk to me? What makes you think I�d want to hear anything you have to say?�
�Just give me five minutes and if you�re not interested by then, I�ll leave.�
�Okay, I guess I can waste five minutes. Come on in.� Minoko opened the door and led Morning Glory to the living room where Belle Star was drinking tea.
�Aren�t you supposed to be Clever Clover�s bodyguard? Why are you here and not guarding him?�
�Oh, I overslept this morning and by the time I woke up he had already left. And he told Minoko that he wanted to be alone today.�
�He wanted to be alone? Oh my! This supports my theory.�
Minoko scratched her head. �What are you talking about?�
Morning Glory sat down. �Well, I saw Clever Clover coming out of the jewelry store. I asked the jeweler and she said that he had been pricing engagement rings!�
�Uh-huh, pricing rings. Really interesting. You�ve got four more minutes.�
Belle Star poured another cup of tea and offered it to Morning Glory. �Would you like some tea?�
�Thank you, Belle Star. Now, Minoko, a stallion doesn�t even think about buying a ring until he is absolutely sure who he wants to wear it!�
Minoko laughed. �Oh? You�re quite the authority on stallions; you must have quite a bit of experience.�
�It doesn�t take that much to figure it out. I�m sensitive and observant. And that is why I�m sure he�ll ask me to be his wife.�
�Oh really?� said Minoko. �Well, once I�m his wife I can have all the locks changed so you can�t get in.�
�Humph! Once I�m his wife, I�ll be able to evict you! Or at least start charging rent.�
Belle Star giggled. �Wouldn�t it be silly if he asked me to marry him?�
Minoko and Morning Glory stared at her in disbelief. �Why would you ever say that?� asked Minoko.
�Well, first I thought of Clever Clover asking me to marry him; then I thought �that�s silly�, so I said, �Wouldn�t it be silly if he asked me to marry him?� �
Minoko and Morning Glory glared at Belle Star for a moment longer, trying to decide weather or not to take her seriously before returning to their bickering.
�I�m sure he�ll take me on a romantic honeymoon to some exotic, isolated spot where the two of us can be alone together for as long as we want,� mused Minoko.
�As a royal couple, I�m sure our honeymoon would be at the finest grand hotel in Ponyland, where we would be waited on hoof and hoof.�
�But if he did marry me, I�d be a princess, wouldn�t I? Princess Belle Star. Tee-hee-hee. And we would live in a big castle.�
�And after the honeymoon we could blow this dump and live on my ship. We�d travel the world, living wherever our hearts led us.�
�I�m sure Clever Clover and I will live here, though we�ll need to do some renovations to make it worthy of a royal couple,� responded Morning Glory.
Belle Star sighed. �And I�d bet we�d have lots and lots of kids. Oh, I�d love to have a big family!�
The conversation ended abruptly as Clever Clover came in. Belle Star rushed over to him. �Oh! Who are you going to marry? I�m so excited! I can�t wait to find out!�
�Uh, what are you talking about?�
�Morning Glory says she saw you pricing for engagement rings,� said Minoko.
�I was at a jewelry store, but I wasn�t pricing rings. I was authenticating antiques.�
�But Pearl said you asked about the engagement rings!�
�I don�t see how it�s any of your business, but I did ask about some rings. But I didn�t know they were engagement rings. They just caught my eye.�
�Just caught your eye? That�s exactly what Pearl said. I think you two are working together to cover your tracks.�
Clever Clover scratched his head. �Uhm, I think you�re paranoid.�
Minoko laughed. �Oh yeah, �sensitive and observant� or �paranoid�? Do you know what I think?�
�Uh, sensitive and observant?� guessed Belle Star.
�Wrong!�
�What!? I am not paranoid! It�s simple deduction!�
�I�m sorry, but your deduction is a little off.�
�I don�t think so. You can deny it all you want, but that doesn�t change the facts.�
Clever Clover shrugged. �Whatever. Will you be staying for supper? I picked up some pizza on the way home.�
Belle Star jumped for joy. �Oh goody! I love pizza!�
�Well, I suppose, since I�m here�� said Morning Glory.