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// Colgate's Big Purchase 
// Story: Ready for Commitment 
// by StormLuna 
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Closing Up Shop

Closing time had arrived and the day had seemed to crawl by for Colgate.  Despite having a busy schedule from the time Rarity had left that morning, all she could think about was getting Fluttershy the perfect ring.  When the last patient left and the clock hit five, Colgate had already begun to get ready to leave and this brought about a surprised reaction from Lyra.  She asked, "Sis, aren't you going to stay around and do everything you always do before you head home?"

Colgate replied, "Lyra, could you just do what you can before locking up for the day?  The jewelry store closes in an hour and I want to make sure that I get Fluttershy the perfect ring!" 

Colgate had only done this once before and Lyra wasn't exactly sure how to do everything.  She said, "Colgate, I don't know how to do everything you do."

Colgate was in a hurry and really didn't want to spend any more time answering her sister's questions than was necessary.  She replied, "Just get the computer shut down and the door locked.  I can come in early and deal with the other things later." 

Lyra nodded and watched as Colgate rushed out the door and rushed home.  While she knew that Colgate did love Fluttershy and wanted to get her the perfect ring, she didn't ever imagine that she would rush out so quickly over something that wouldn't be life or death. 





Colgate's Big Purchase 

After leaving her office, Colgate did more than leisurely walk home, she rushed home.  Normally Colgate was the type of pony who had no desire to get sweaty, that day she really didn't care.  She knew that she had to get her money and rush back to the jewelry store before they closed. 

Once she got home, she headed into her bedroom and unlocked her safe.  When she opened it, she knew that she would have more than enough to get her what would be the embodiment of perfection.  Despite knowing that taking that much would likely be unnecessary, she grabbed 5,000 bits, put it in her purse and rushed to the jewelry store. 

When she arrived, she could see that the clerk was looking like he just couldn't wait to get going until he saw her come in.  He was in a state of shock when he saw Colgate come in.  He, like pretty much everypony else in town, knew how she was, knew that she would not spend any money that was unnecessary and wondered why she would go into his store.  He looked her way and gasped, "Dr. Colgate, is that you?"

Colgate replied, "Yes it is me." 

Karat asked, "So how can I help you today?"

Colgate replied, "I need to see your finest diamonds, nothing but the absolute best will do." 

Karat knew about her living situation and knew about how her sister had been dating Bon Bon for a very long time.  He asked, "I take it you're here to get a ring for Lyra to give to Bon Bon?"  He noticed Colgate was about to reply when he continued, "That is very generous for you to buy her something like......" 

Colgate interrupted, "This isn't for Lyra."  While she did not really want to tell anypony outside of Rarity what her true intentions were, she slipped, "Actually, I'm getting this to give to Fluttershy.  I'm going to ask......"  

She then caught herself before she could finish her statement but it was too late, Karat already knew what her intentions were.  He gasped, "Wait a minute, you're going to ask Fluttershy to marry you?"

Colgate asked in return, "Yes but could you please not share this with anypony.  I don't want word getting out." 

Karat was still shocked, "I had heard you two were dating but I never imagined that you two were getting this serious, I never imagined that you would be coming to buy her a ring." 

Colgate replied, "Well here I am.  Now could you please show me your finest diamond rings, preferably gold."

One thing Karat did know was that Colgate had been very good at managing her money ever since she had her practice and figured that she likely had more than enough in the way of bits to pay for whatever she was going to get.  When she saw the selection, she was immediately drawn to the rings made of rose gold.  While she did notice that the prices were quite high, it didn't matter to her.  What mattered to her was that what she would get Fluttershy be perfect. 

After ten minutes of closely analyzing the rings until she saw one with a good sized diamond, one that was over one karat.  She pointed her finger at it and said, "I would like that one." 

Karat gasped, "But Colgate, that one is nearly 4,000 bits!" 

Colgate pulled her money out of her purse and asked, "I know, I just want the best for Fluttershy." 

Karat was shocked when he saw Colgate pull out what looked like a very large sum of money.  Another thing that shocked him was that while most ponies would cringe at prices like that, that Colgate took it in stride, she took it like that was exactly what she was expecting to pay.  He grabbed the ring, put it in a case and said, "Very well, let's get you checked out." 

When he rang up the ring, he said, "That will be four thousand bits even." 

Colgate gave him a smile, "Sounds good."  She began to flip through her money until she had counted out the required amount.  She handed him the money and continued, "I am so happy you have rings like this.  Like I have said before, only the best will do!" 

Karat said, "Well thank you for your business and you have a pleasant evening." 

As Colgate was heading out the door she replied, "You have a pleasant evening as well." 

As Colgate left, Karat was still in a state of shock.  While he had had ponies go in and buy expensive rings before, never did he imagine that anypony would go in and buy the most expensive ring in the store without even batting an eye over the price.  As he was flipping through the money she had given him he said to himself, "Well this will certainly help me get in another diamond over one karat!" 





Lyra's Discovery

As Colgate headed home, she was ecstatic.  She knew that Karat would have a good selection of rings but what made her happy was that he had one that she thought would be worthy of being on Fluttershy's hand.  She was so lost in her thoughts that she arrived home before she knew it.  When she walked in the door, she was immediately greeted by Lyra, "Hi sis, how'd it go at the jewelry store?"

Colgate replied, "Things went very well."  

Lyra saw Colgate heading into her bedroom and decided to follow her.  She was very curious as to what kind of ring her sister had gotten and decided that she was going to find out.  When she got into Colgate's bedroom, she saw Colgate opening her safe and putting the ring along with the rest of her money in there.  She also couldn't help but notice that Colgate had plenty of money already in there.  She wanted to know so she asked, "So sis, what does the ring look like?"

Colgate had no desire to simply show Lyra the ring but knew that she would continue to pester her until she let her see it.  Colgate opened the box and showed it to her.  Lyra gasped, "Wow sis, that diamond has to be at least one karat."  She then examined the ring further and asked, "Is that rose gold?"

Colgate replied, "Well the diamond is 1.25 karats and yes it is rose gold.  I wanted to get her something worthy of her." 

Lyra approached her sister, embraced her and said, "Well I think it is lovely.  I am certain Fluttershy will love it."  She then got a huge smile on her face and continued, "I can't wait to see the dresses you had Rarity make you!"  She then began to snicker, "My big sister in a dress, I never imagined I would ever see that." 

Colgate tried to give her a scowl but just couldn't, "I know, I know.  No need to snicker over it."  It was starting to get late and Colgate was in no mood to cook that night so she continued, "Well Lyra, I am really not in the mood to cook so what do you say we go out?"

Lyra was shocked.  Not only had Colgate made a huge purchase that day but she was also suggesting they go out and if there was one thing she loved, it was going out.  She cheered, "Of course sis, I'd love to go out!" 

Colgate replied, "The Hay Burger sound good?"

Lyra cheered, "That's my favorite!"  She quickly turned towards the exit and continued, "Let's get going before the supper rush hits!" 

Unlike the cafe, the Hay Burger generally never had a supper rush but Colgate wanted to get going herself.  She replied, "Yeah, we don't want to get there too late." 

As the two headed out for supper, Colgate couldn't be happier.  She had finally got Fluttershy the ring she felt that was worthy of her and Lyra felt truly happy for her sister.  She knew that she and Fluttershy had been growing closer but the fact that she spent so much on a ring for her caused her to realize that her sister wasn't quite the rigid pony she had always seemed after all.