Born to Serve 1: Adam Smith's Lemonade

>As the projector whirrs to life, you slouch down in your seat and groan
>Great, another educational film...
>A black and white image of a waving, Equestrian flag flickers on to the screen
>The annoying horn music grates in your ears
>It sounds almost as bad as the voice of the overly enthusiastic narrator
>"If you're watching this film, then congratulations!  You are a citizen of the greatest nation on earth!  Equestria!"
>A cartoon image of a confused p0ny pops into view
>"But you're probably asking yourself, 'Just what makes Equestria so great?  How does our glorious leader, Princess Celestia, give us all the abundance and prosperity that she does, day after day?'"
>You really couldn't care less
>"Well, we're glad you asked, citizen!"
>An image of the Princess takes up the screen now
>"You see, over one thousand years ago, Princess Celestia realized that the many daily activities necessary to keep Equestria running smoothly was too much for one p0ny, even one as powerful as her!"
>Soooo boooooring...
>Your eyelids begin to flutter as you try to stay awake
>"And so, Princess Celestia, in her abundant wisdom, enlisted a small, 13 member group of p0nies to be her councilors!"
>The screen changes to show the Princess, seated at a table with 13 unicorns
>"These first councilors were among the best and the brightest of all p0nies!  They served to assist and advise her highness in all manner of government functions, from taxes to military to even creating this film!"
>If the councilors made this boring schlock, you decided you already didn't like them very much
>You weren't about to tell the one you worked for, though...
>"As time passed, the councilors raised protege's, typically their sons and daughters, to take up their important positions when they retired or passed away!  Most p0nies often refer to the councilors as 'brothers' or 'sisters' of Celestia, giving them positions next to that of royaltyyyyy..."
>The sudden distortion of the audio forces you awake as you watch the images seem to tear and fade before coming to a halt
>Without warning, the lights in your little school room flicker on, blinding you for a moment
>"Darn it all!  I thought I had gotten this infernal contraption fixed!"
>You turn in your seat, looking behind you to view your teacher, angrily fumbling with the projector
"Does this mean we're done for today, Professor Sparkle?" you ask, hopefully
>The blue stallion turns to you and frowns
>"Don't get antsy, Anonymous.  This is just a minor technical difficulty"
>You slump over your seat back and sigh
>"Mind your tone, young colt.  These films are a piece of Equestrian history, and it's important for you to learn about how the country you're living in operates"
"But, professor, these films are so boring!  And I already know all about the council and all that stuff!"
>The projector sparks and fizzles suddenly, causing your teacher to recoil quickly
>He grunts
>"Well, that's great...hmph, just as well.  These films, while informative, aren't much more than nationalist propaganda anyway..."
>You weren't sure what those words meant, but you got the feeling that your teacher liked the film about as much as you did
>You'd much rather that he just give a typical lecture than show these stupid things, anyway
>At least then, you wouldn't be completely bored
>Professor Sparkle gave interesting talks and was pretty good at his job
>In fact, you had decided that he was an alright guy.  A little weird at times, but very nice to you
>But as much as you didn't mind the professor, he was still a little strange
>Sometimes he took you to the other place he worked, the "Canterlot Science Institute" or something like that
>You really didn't like that place
>Doctor p0nies with cold hooves would poke and prod you all day, taking measurements, looking down your throat, and scribbling notes that they would never let you look at, no matter how politely you asked
>Your thoughts are interrupted as the professor tosses the ruined film in the garbage
>"Well, that's that, I guess..."
>He turns his gaze back to you and twists up his mouth
>"To be honest, I didn't really have anything else planned for today..."
>Your eyes widen in hope
"So, we're done then?  Can I go?"
>He sighs
>"Yes, I suppose you can..."
>As you practically launch out of your seat, he calls after you
>"Not so fast, Anonymous!  I still expect you to have your multiplication tables for me to review tomorrow.  And don't forget that we're going back to the Science Institute for another round of tests on Thursday"
>You shudder
>Wait.  Thursday?
"But, Professor Sparkle!  Thursday's my birthday!"
>He raises a brow at you
>"Really?"
"Yeah!  Oh, please, professor...don't make me go to there on my birthday!"
>Your sullen visage makes him chuckle
>"Okay, okay, Anonymous...we don't have to go on Thursday.  After all, you only turn eleven once..."
>Your spirits are immediately lifted
"Thanks, professor!" you shout as you race for the door
>Almost free...
>"One last thing, Anonymous!"
>Augh!  You were so close!
>You turn back around to see that the smile has fallen from your teacher's face
>He now regards you coldly
>"I would appreciate it if you ceased harassing my daughter, young colt"
>What?  You hadn't-
"Professor, I've never harassed Twilight"
>He raises a brow at you
>"Anon..."
"Honest!  I was...I was just teasin' is all"
>Your teacher 'hmphs', clearly not satisfied with your explanation
>Even if it was totally true...
>"She doesn't seem to think your antics are very funny, Anonymous.  Just try to be mindful of her feelings, okay?"
>You sigh
"Yes, sir..."
>The smile returns to his face
>"Good.  Now run along and enjoy yourself, okay kiddo?"
>You don't have to be told twice, as you bolt out the door, shouting a final goodbye
>Entering the massive hallway, you sprint to the left, then take a right, and then another right, before barreling down the massive staircase
>Though you lived in the servants' housing, you knew the whole mansion by heart
>Every corridor, every room, every nook and cranny you had memorized
>You had lived here your entire life, which meant knew this place better than most of the other servants
>More importantly, you knew all the best places to hide and jump out of, spooking anyp0ny who happened to be passing by
>Good times...
>You had gotten the best of that old p0ny, Inkblot, the master's head butler, more times than you could count
>Then he usually gave you more work...but seeing his expression was totally worth it
>You would never try to scare the master though...that p0ny was stern, distant, and a little scary...
>All that didn't matter right now though, you had finished all your morning chores and your daily lecture was done early
>Which meant that you had most of the rest of the day to hang out with your best bud
>Opening the back door to the house, you spot him, resting lazily on the grass
>As you approach, you clear your throat
"Master Blueblood"
>You stop and perform an exaggerated bow
"Would you care to accompany this humble servant today?  A servant who is not worthy of-"
>"Yeah, yeah, you're hilarious, Anon"
>Blueblood jumps up and yawns, recovering from his mid morning snooze
>"Sarcasm much?"
>You just giggle
"So, what're we gonna do today, Blue?  You said you had something awesome in mind?"
>He grins before reaching behind him to produce a small plastic bag
>"Oh, yeah.  Get a load of these babies!"
>You snatch the bag from his hooves
>It contains an assortment of small, multi-colored balloons
"Neat.  What're these for?"
>Blueblood jumps to his hooves and begins to trot back toward the house
>"Come on, I'll explain on the way"
>You shrug and follow, opening the bag and holding one of the tiny balloons in your fingertips
>You both reach the side of the house, specifically where the garden hose is, and Blueblood stops
>"Alright, Anon.  Let's fill these babies up" he states, holding up the hose
"Why?"
>Blueblood smirks at you
>"Because, Anon, every day around this time, a group of fillies leave school and end up walking by our house.  Today, we're gonna hide near the road and when they come by..."
>He claps his hooves together
>"Bam!  We hit 'em with the water balloons!"
"Okay, yeah, that sounds hilarious, but why them?"
>He stares at you like you had just said something stupid
>You didn't think you had...
>"Anon, how is this not obvious?  Because they're GIRLS!"
>Your 10 year old brain can't argue with that logic
>As far as you were concerned, being a girl was about the worst crime anyp0ny could commit
>You shrug
"Makes sense to me" you state as you affix the first balloon to the end of the hose
>Giggling madly, you two fill up the balloons and tie them off, only experiencing a few drenching mishaps along the way
>Looking at your stockpile of ammunition, you realize that it was going to be too many to carry
>Searching the area, you spy a bag of fertilizer by one of the flower beds
>Perfect
>Without thinking, you dump the bag's contents out onto the garden
>What was that saying?  Too much of a good thing is...an even better thing, right?
>As you fill the bag with your weapons, Blueblood begins to trot away toward the street
>"Come on, Anon, we're gonna be late!"
>You grunt as you heft the bag over your shoulder
"Hold your horses, Blue, I'm coming!"
>With your girl-drenching weaponry in tow, you both run until you reach the road
>Blueblood stares down the street
>"Okay, good.  It looks like we're not too late.  Now, where should we set up?"
>You scan the bushes near your attack point
>No...too obvious...you needed to be somewhere they wouldn't be able to spot you right away
>Suddenly, inspiration strikes
"Got it!  Come on!"
>You sprint across the road and Blueblood follows
>You stop abruptly and Blue nearly crashes into you
"Up here!  We'll climb this tree and hit them from above!"
>Blueblood eyes the tree nervously before turning back to you
>"Uhh, I don't know, Anon...that tree looks kinda dirty.  I don't want to get sap all over me..."
>Geez, this guy could be such a wimp
"What's the matter, Blue?  You scared?"
>That does the trick, as your buddy screws up his face in anger
>"Am not!"
>You chuckle
"Good, now hold this for a sec"
>You pass him the bag as you easily make your way up the low branches
>Having fingers and thumbs was pretty great sometimes
>Blueblood throws you the bag and you rest it on a branch
>He laughs awkwardly, placing his front hooves on the tree trunk
>"Think you can give me a lift?"
>You reach down and grab his hoof, pulling him up to where you were
>"Ahh!  Gently!"
"I've got ya, quit squirming!"
>With a minor bit of struggling, you manage to get Blueblood up to the branch you were sitting on, before placing the bag between you two
>Just in time too, as you spy the group of fillies Blueblood mentioned beginning to come down the road
>"Awesome!  There they are!" Blueblood states as he grabs a balloon and hefts it in his hoof
>You grab one as well
>"Okay, Anon, on my signal, we unleash the storm of watery death!"
"Darn right!"
>As you both giggle and shush each other as the fillies approach, you spy one following behind them, reading a levitating book
>Twilight...
>For some reason, you had found it very enjoyable to tease her every chance you had got
>You really didn't know why...maybe it was her big, stupid eyes, or her flowing, purple mane...you just knew you felt weird whenever you saw her
>You didn't really know how to handle these feelings, so you had taken to making fun of her...calling her Twilight Fartle seemed to get under her skin
>Ha, Twilight Fartle...you were some kind of word genius
>You whisper to Blueblood
"You see Twilight?  Make sure to hit her too"
>Blueblood turns to you
>"Why her?"
"I'm not sure...she just seems like she needs a water balloon in the face"
>Long gone from your memory was your professor's warning not to torment his daughter, you just knew you wanted to throw a balloon at her stupid, pretty face
>Ugly face!  You meant ugly face!
>As the fillies get closer, you both tense up
>"Annnnnd...now!"
>You both hurl the balloons in your respective appendages...to watch them splash at the hooves of the fillies
>Darn it
>They quickly recoil in shock before staring up to see you both
>"Oh, crap, they're on to us!  Reload!  Reload!"
>You both haphazardly grab balloons from the bag and toss them at the fillies
>Only a few hit, most of them just splash the girls
>You both laugh, raucously, at their horror
>"Ha ha!  Take that, you stupid girls!" Blueblood shouts
>"Hey!  Stop that!  I see you, Blueblood!  Wait 'till I tell your mother on you!"
>You can practically feel your buddy's heart drop into his stomach
>"Uhh...I mean...It was Anon!  He threw those!"
>What?!
>You turn to the betrayer
"You dick!"
>He faces you, fearful now
>"Anon, if my mom finds out, she'll kill me!"
"Pfft, she's already going to kill you for getting sap in your coat"
>Blueblood frantically searches his body
>"What?!  Where?!  Where is it?!"
>You laugh at your little joke
"Bahaha!  Oh, wow, you're too easy, Blue!"
>You ignore Blueblood's anger and grab another balloon
>Suddenly, you notice that Twilight is about to pass the infuriated fillies
>Still engrossed in her book, she's completely unaware of the war zone unfolding around her
>She's just within range...now's your chance, Anon
>Deftly, you handle the projectile in your hands
>Gotta make this shot count...
>You hurl the balloon in her direction
>Come on...come on...
>One of the fillies suddenly notices her
>"Twilight!  Watch out!"
>The purple filly turns up from her book...
>Just as the balloon strikes her on the horn, bursting all around her
>Yes!
>You and Blueblood almost fall out of the tree, laughing at the soaked filly
>As you dry your eyes, you look at your victim
>Her tome lies drenched at her hooves
>She stares, enraged, directly at you.  Even from where you were sitting, you could see her eye twitching
>Somehow, you think she didn't find this quite as funny as you did...
>Her malicious gaze is enough to put the fear of Celestia in you
>You really want to run away right now
>"Anonymous!!" Twilight shouts at you
>"You big jerk!  I'm gonna make you pay for that!"
>Oh, balls, she looks pissed
>You quickly search for another balloon
>...Only to find that you were all out
>You and Blueblood share a look of terror
"Run!"
>You jump from the branch, instinctively tucking and rolling as you hit the ground
>Those Canterlot doctors had tested this, something about "kinesthetics"
>Did you mention how much you hated it when they decided making you jump from heights was a good test?
>"Anon!"
>Blueblood looks down from the high branch, terrified
>"Catch me!"
>He probably didn't deserve it, but you were not about to leave him to suffer at the hooves of the enemy
>You hold out your hands and Blueblood jumps, his weight crashing into you
>You throw him to the ground and begin to book it
>Blueblood, to his credit, recovers quickly and follows, racing ahead of you even
>Stupid two legs...why couldn't you have four like everyp0ny else?
>As you tear down the street, you look over your shoulder to see if you had lost the girls
>Your question is answered immediately when you spot one filly in particular chasing you
>It had to be her...
>Twilight bears down on you, fury in her eyes
>Her horn begins to light up
"Ha!  Nice try, Twilight Fartle!  Magic doesn't work on m-"
>Your taunting is cut short when you suddenly trip and face-plant into the road
>Adrenaline blocks out the pain as you flip over onto your butt, attempting to scramble away from the pursuing filly
>Behind you, you spy a small box that hadn't been there before, the purple glow around it beginning to diminish
>Oh, very clever, Twilight, very clever
>Magic doesn't work on you, but it definitely works on boxes that could be moved into your path
>The p0ny who tripped you screeches to a halt a few feet away
>"You!"
>Gasping for breath, she shouts at you, tears in her eyes
>"Why are you so MEAN to me?!"
>You really don't have an answer for her
>You didn't think you had been mean...you had just teased her...or at least you thought it was just teasing
>You attempt to speak
"I...I don't know..."
>Her face screws up, on the verge of tears, before she bolts away towards her house
>That threw you for a loop...seeing her run off like that all sad...
>What had started out as something fun was quickly becoming something that made you feel bad...
>Your internal conflict is broken as the sound of hooves comes from behind you
>Blueblood reaches your side
>"Anon!  You okay?!"
>You rise to your feet and dust yourself off
"Yeah...yeah, I'm fine..."
>You growl at Blueblood
"Thanks a lot for throwing me under the carriage back there, by the way"
>He looks downward, dejectedly
>"Sorry, Anon...I just freaked out...I'm probably gonna get it from my mom no matter what"
>You groan, holding your injured face
>"Hey...it was still pretty funny though, right?"
>You look over in the direction Twilight ran off in
"I don't know...I thought so at first, but it looks like Twilight took it pretty hard...I kinda feel bad now..."
>Blueblood shrugs
>"Fillies...what're you gonna do?"
>You just sigh, wondering if you should go chase her down and apologize
>"Ah, come on, dude.  We'll just head back to the stall.  Making some bits will make you feel better"
>Looks like that apology will have to wait
"Sure, let's head out"
>Blueblood's face lights up and you both stroll down the street, toward the castle
>Calling up the memories of you and Blueblood's little business venture, you chuckle to yourself
"I've got a good feeling about the shop today, Blue"
>"Oh, yeah?  Why's that?"
>You peer up into the air
"There isn't a cloud in the sky, and it's kinda hot out.  P0nies'll be lining up to get a taste"
>He turns to you and smirks
>"And we'll be there to collect their money"
>You give him a smirk back
"That's the idea, pal"
>Satisfied that you were friends again, you both continue to stroll along, eventually approaching the gates bordering the palace grounds
>Any p0ny who had money was going to be walking around inside those gates and you were going to-
>"Halt!"
>The angry pegasus pointing a spear in your face suddenly gets your attention and you abruptly stop in your tracks
>He and his partner guarding the entryway eye you coldly from under their golden helmets
>"Exactly who, and what, are you?  And what business do you have here?"
>Rats.  In your eagerness to set up shop, you had gotten ahead of Blueblood and just walked right up to the palace gates without him
>Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem, but you hadn't seen these guards before
>More importantly, they hadn't seen you before
>"Relax, guys..."
>Blueblood trots confidently up to your side
>"This is my servant, he'll be accompanying me into the palace grounds.  That won't be a problem, will it?"
>Blueblood produces his family's House seal and flashes it for the ominous pegasi
>They immediately recognize the symbol, two shooting stars entwined about each other, and their mannerisms change dramatically
>"Oh!  Master Blueblood!  No, no of course it won't be a problem, please, right this way!"
>The obstructions to your lucrative endeavor quickly jump to the side and let you pass
>Once inside, Blueblood turns to you
>"See Anon?  I'll always have your back, dude"
>Darn right...
>That was the way of things between you two
>You were the brains, he had all the connections
>It had helped you two set up your little business, and had helped it thrive
>At least...you hoped it would thrive today
>You weren't the only individuals to set up shop here in the shadow of the palace
>Vendors of all sorts had little stalls in the outer palace grounds
>As you pass through the hordes of salesp0nies, you take a peek at their wares
>Hot lunches...fresh produce...some even sold meat for the non-p0nies who had business at the castle
>It was a good place to sell stuff.  A lot of p0nies worked in the castle and the surrounding buildings, and they didn't usually want to go very far on their lunch breaks or for their grocery shopping
>Yep, this was prime real estate for setting up shop, provided you could get a permit
>You and Blue, however, were considered royalty
>And royalty don't need no stinkin' permits
>As you approach the area where you normally set up, you both call out your greetings to your stall neighbor
>She was a friendly old mare who came to Canterlot every time this year to peddle some of her wares
>"Hey, Mrs. Smith!" Blueblood calls out to her
"Mrs. Smith..."
>You give her a slight bow.  You knew your manners and you knew what was expected of you within the castle grounds
>You might be Blueblood's friend, but that didn't erase your status as a servant
>When you finish your gesture, you can see the green mare eying you disapprovingly
>"Land sakes, Anonymous!  Ah thought Ah told ya not to do that for little ol' me!"
>You give her a sheepish grin
>"My apologies, Milady-"
>She raises a hoof
>"Up, up, up!  Now you call me Granny, ya hear?  Yer fancy Canterlot talk just don't sit right with me.  Even if ya are such a little gentlecolt"
>You always found yourself enraptured by her strange accent
>It sounded so exotic, like nothing you had ever heard before
>Direct and guttural, but honest and open
>You could listen to her talk for ages
>Blueblood was not so patient, however...
>"Mrs. Smith?  Uh, I mean, 'Granny', do you have our supplies?"
>"Shoot! A'course Ah do!  Here you go..."
>One of the many benefits to being friends with "Granny" Smith was that she held on to your business supplies while you two were gone
>You and Blueblood had offered her a holding fee, but she always turned it down
>As you gather the wood, poster board, plastic cups, and your precious product, you turn to Mrs. Smith
"So, how's your son doing?"
>As she passes some supplies to Blueblood, she turns to you and her expression falls, before forcing itself into a sad smile
>"Oh...well, he's doin' better.  Them doctors told us that infernal sickness has 'gone into remission' or some such"
>She stares at her hooves for a second before meeting your gaze again
>"But that's nothin' to concern yerself with, little colt.  You two go have yer fun!"
>You try to meet her pained expression with a smile of your own before helping Blueblood finish the stall
>When it's finished...goddess above, this thing is a work of art
>A larger than average wooden stall with a big poster board hanging above it, proudly displaying the title...
>"Anon and Blueblood's Crazy Lemonade!  Buy a glass already!"
>"Hmph" Blueblood snorts
>"Why does your name get to be first?"
>You sigh
"I told you, Blue.  It's alphabetical"
>He rolls his eyes
>"Whatever...let's just get to work"
>And get to work you did
>Your impressive little setup attracted a number of customers throughout the day
>As the bits clinked and clanked into your bowl you two's smiles became wider and wider
>A few hours pass and the money flow begins to dwindle
"That's strange...we usually make a lot more than this..."
>Blueblood nudges your side
>"I think I see the problem..." he groans
>You look where he points
>Ah, crap
>Across the grounds and a few stalls down you spot your problem
>Some silly little fillies had decided to set up, you guessed it, a dinky little lemonade stall of their own
>One that was closer to the castle entrance than yours, which meant your potential customers were likely going to buy their lemonade from them before they could even see your boss setup
>You turn to Blueblood
"You want to handle this or should I?"
>Blueblood gawks at you
>"Are you kidding me?  I'm not talking to some stupid girls!"
>You grunt
"Fine, give me the bits, I'll deal with them"
>He obliges, muttering something about your funeral, and you leave your awesome stall, strolling over casually to your competitors
>Fortunately, you weren't going in cold
>This kind of thing had happened to you two before, and you had dealt with it
>Strangely, only kids your age had ever had the idea to set up lemonade stalls, which you thought was just strange
>After all, who doesn't like lemonade?
>As you approach the girls' stall, they become aware of your presence and eye you suspiciously
>Okay, Anon, here we go
"Afternoon, ladies!" you state with a bow
>One of the girls scoffs
>"Oh, it's you, Anonymous...what do you want?"
"Why, I'm just here to buy some lemonade, nothing more!" you state, innocently
>You produce the sack of bits for them to see and throw one on the table
>The girls gawk at your accumulated wealth before one of them slowly slides a plastic cup towards you
>You quickly grab the cup and down its contents
"Mmmm!  Why that's some of the best lemonade I've ever tasted!"
>It's alright
>One of the girls blushes at you, sheepishly
>"Th-Thanks...I made it myself..."
>The other filly still stares daggers at you
>You decide to continue your spiel
"Hey, did you ladies hear about the fair passing through town?  I heard they've got all sorts of really fun games"
>The blushing filly suddenly smiles
>"Yeah!  I heard about that!  They have whack-a-diamond-dog, and a Ferris wheel, and..."
>Her friend cuts her off
>"So?  What're you getting at, Anonymous?"
>You simply shrug
"Nothing really.  I just think it's kind of a shame that you two are missing out on such fun while you're staying here cooped up with this lemonade stand"
>The fillies ponder your statement for a moment before the blushing one pipes up
>"But we have to stay here...we borrowed the supplies for our stand from our parents and we're trying to make some bits"
>You give them a wide grin
"Well, if it's bits you're after, I think I can solve your problem"
>You plop the bag of money down on their little table
"I'll give you this in return for your lemonade and stall materials.  Then you two will have plenty of bits to spend at the fair!"
>The blushing filly looks up at you
>"You'd do that?  For us?"
>The cynical filly isn't so easily swayed
>"Okay, Anon, what's the catch?"
>You wave your hands, defensively
"No catch.  You just take the bits, leave your stuff here, and go enjoy yourselves"
>They look at each other, then back at you
>"Deal!" they both state, enthusiastically
>All too easy...
>They leave, overjoyed at their sudden windfall, and you bring their supplies back to your booth
>As Blueblood finishes up with a customer, he grins at you
>"Another one down?"
>You smirk, pouring the fillies' lemonade into your pitcher
"Another one down"
>This was the normal course of events for you and Blueblood
>Little colts and fillies, usually kids of royalty, like Blueblood, or kids of their advisers, barged into your territory and you bought their stalls
>In the end, you two were the only ones selling lemonade
>As the day winds down, the both of you begin to wrap up your little operation
>Granny Smith had already left for the day, leaving her strongbox chained up to a post for you to pack most of your stall supplies in
>As you finish putting away the the materials for your stand, Blueblood counts the bits and groans in an irritated fashion
>"Awww!  Anon, even with our sales we lost 10 bits today!" he whines as he throws the bag at you
>You catch it and shrug
"We'll make it up tomorrow.  I doubt-"
>"Hey!  Hey you!"
>You both turn, puzzled, in the direction of the voice
>A white unicorn colt storms angrily in your direction
>Oh, no...
>"You've got a lot of explaining to do!"
>Great, this is just what you need...
>Shining frickin' Armor, big brother to Twilight Fartle, is glaring at you
>"What do you want, Shiny?" Blueblood inquires, not the least bit annoyed
>"You wanna explain to me why my little sister came home crying and soaking wet?"
>You sigh
"Look, dude, it was just a joke.  All she got was a little wet, that's all"
>You try to pass, but the older p0ny blocks your way
>"Not this time, Anonymous...this time you're gonna pay for harassing my sister!"
>It wasn't harassment!  You were just teasing!  Why couldn't anyp0ny see that?
"Oh, yeah?  What're you gonna d-"
>Before you can finish your sentence, Shining jumps forward and digs his horn into your stomach, bowling you over
"Ooof!"
>You hear the clinking of bits as your well-earned pay tumbles out onto the pavement
>You scramble to your feet, seeing Shining douche-bag about to make another charge
>The pain causes your adrenaline to surge
>Pre-pubescent rage courses through you
"You're gonna have to do better than that, you bucking-"
>As Shining charges, you launch forward with a right hook
>Before Shining can hit you, your fist collides with his face
>To your surprise and relief, Shining Armor is knocked, sprawling, across the ground by your attack
>Blueblood, now at your side, gasps at your sudden display of martial prowess
>"Holy buck, Anon!  How...How did you do that?!"
>You're just as shocked as him
>You had never hit another p0ny in your life
>You didn't know you could give a punch that strong...sure, you were taller than the p0nies your age, even the adults...but up until now you didn't know that that meant you were stronger as well
"I...I don't-"
>While you wrestle with your sudden discovery, Shining wastes no times in getting back on his hooves and knocking you over again
>He jumps on top of you this time, and begins to drive his hooves into your face
>"Quit it!" Blueblood yells as he tries to stop your assailant
>Shining Armor quickly knocks him aside and resumes his beating
>His hooves smack into your nose, your eyes, your mouth
>Through the pain, you flail wildly at his face, eventually grabbing his mane and yanking hard
>He yelps as he moves his hooves from turning your face into a pulpy mess to trying to remove your hand from his hair
>Seizing the opportunity, you raise your free hand and deliver another apparently devastating punch to his jaw
>Knocking him off of you, you roll away and hold your injured face
>You feel liquid.  You're not sure if it's mostly blood or tears at this point
>Turning to face your attacker, you see that he's back on his hooves and beginning to charge you
>Before Shining can finish you off for good, he's suddenly wrapped in a blue glow and pulled into the air
>Then, despite the pain in your face, despite the terror for your own mortality you currently feel, you hear a voice that makes the blood freeze in your veins
>A voice that signaled both your salvation and your doom
>"That is ENOUGH!!"
>As Shining Armor is yanked backwards, a face fills your vision
"P-Professor Sparkle..."
>The blue stallion stares at you, disappointment evident in his face
>"You and I and Shining are going to have a little talk, Anonymous..."
>Buck...
-----------------------------
>Your head is still ringing, but at least the bleeding had stopped
>Several layers of bandages wrapped around your dome will do that
>Your attacker doesn't look much better
>Shining Armor sits across from you in the living room of the mansion you couldn't quite call home, but you could at least call it the place where you worked
>His eye is bruised and blackened and his jaw looks dislocated
>Serves him right...
>For now, however, Shining looks more worried about his father, pacing in front of him and lecturing, than he does about his injuries
>"I can't believe you, Shining...I just can't believe you would do this..."
>"But dad!  He threw stuff at Twiley!  He-"
>"I don't care what he did!  That does not give you the right to become a vigilante and go about trying to beat him up!  Thank Celestia your mother overheard where you were going and let me know..."
>"But-"
>"But nothing, young colt!  You should have told me what was happening!  This is behavior extremely unbecoming of a p0ny who wishes to some day join the royal guard!"
>Shining hangs his head
>You and Blueblood, sitting next to you, share a look and snigger at the scolding Shining was receiving
>"And YOU!"
>Your enjoyment of the situation is obliterated as your professor turns his ire in your direction
>"I thought I told you not to harass my daughter!  Did you think I was joking?"
"I didn't-"
>Ouch, talking hurt right now
>You wince, but try to continue
"I didn't harass her...I just threw a water balloon at her, that's all!"
>"And I thought I told you that she didn't find your antics very amusing, Anonymous!  Well, I think this counts as one of your antics!"
>Professor Sparkle continues
>"And if that isn't enough, you were fighting my son in the streets!  I don't want to see you doing that ever again, do you understand me?!"
"Professor Sparkle!  I was just defending myself!"
>The stallion stops pacing and sighs, looking in your direction
>"Anonymous...you have to understand...your species..."
>He pauses and then continues
>"Your species appears to be quite strong of body.  You see, your size gives you strength beyond your years.  I don't want to see you fighting because when you get older, you're probably going to end up very big and very strong"
>His expression looks...oh, what was that word?
>It had been on one of your vocabulary tests recently...pensive?  Yeah, that was it, pensive
>Professor Sparkle eyes you pensively
>"I don't want you to turn out to be some kind of bully"
>"And why should the boy be afraid of his own strength, Sparkle?"
>That voice causes you to tense up
>You quickly, and painfully, turn to see your master stroll into the foyer
>Master Brightstar...the stallion who seemed to loom in the background behind everything you did within these walls...who seemed to materialize from nowhere and harshly judge your cleaning abilities
>You knew this house better than any servant, but he seemed to know it far better than you
>You immediately rise to your feet to give your master a bow, as was expected of you
>Before you're even halfway through getting up, Brightstar barks at you
>"Sit down, Anonymous"
>You comply.  You had figured out by now it wasn't a good idea to get on the master's bad side
>"Ah, Councilor Brightstar..."
>Professor Sparkle addresses the newest entry to the conversation
>"So glad you could cut time from your busy schedule to meet with us"
>Though Professor Sparkle gives the master a slight bow, you could always guess that he didn't really care for Brightstar
>"Yes, yes..."
>The master brushes past your teacher and moves toward you, eying your head wounds suspiciously
>"What's your progeny gone and done tangling with one of my servants?"
>Without waiting for an answer, the master turns to his son
>"Blueblood?  Would you care to explain this?"
>Your friend stumbles over his words for a moment
>"W-Well, we were in the castle square, and then Shining Armor attacked Anon.  I tried to help, but he was too big...a-and I wasn't ready!  I would've given him something to think about had I been ready!"
>You knew that was crap
>Brightstar seems to share your doubt and raises an eyebrow at Blueblood
>"Really?  And why would Shining Armor just attack Anonymous like that?"
>"Umm..."
>"I'm waiting, Blueblood"
>Aw, nuts, the truth was going to come out at some point
"Master Brightstar...I threw a water balloon at Twilight Sparkle...Shining Armor came after me to get back at me for doing so..."
>The master turns to you and huffs
>"See, Crescent?  This was all just a fight between a few rambunctious youngsters.  Colts will be colts and so on and so forth"
>Professor Sparkle sighs
>"Yes, well, it may be more than that...considering Anonymous' size and weight, if he had been only a few years older, this could have-"
>The master cuts him off suddenly, turning to his son
>"Wait.  Blueblood.  You said you were in the castle grounds.  What were you doing in that den of thieves and ruffians again?"
>Blueblood shifts, hesitantly in his seat
>"We were just selling lemonade..."
>The master chuckles
>"Oh goodness, Blueblood!  Well, that wasn't a very good idea, was it?  Why, there must have been hundreds of other little colts and fillies all trying to push lemonade on the p0nies at the castle"
>"Well...no, not really, father"
>Master Brightstar gives your friend another incredulous stare
>"Well that's odd...in my day, that was where all the children of royalty went to peddle lemonade"
>He sighs
>"Kids these days...no ambition"
>He eyes Blueblood coldly
>"You two can't have been the only colts who sold lemonade there, could you?"
>The professor interjects
>"Master Brightstar, I doubt this has any relevance to the important matter at hoof.  You know, the fighting?"
>The master looks over his wither and snorts at the professor
>"I just want to get the whole story here, Sparkle"
>He turns back to you two
>"And I intend to get it"
>You decide to keep quiet about why no other children decided to sell lemonade near you, but Blueblood inevitably pipes up
>"Father, the reason no p0ny else sells lemonade but us..."
>Blueblood turns to you, expecting you to fill in the information
>Typical
>Blueblood was going to sit back and let you take the blame...
>Even if you two's entire business strategy was your idea after all
>Well, here goes nothing
"Master, there were other p0nies selling lemonade at the castle like you said, but we...convinced them to leave..."
>The master's gaze narrows at you
>"What exactly do you mean by 'convinced'?"
"Well...we gave them some of the money we had made selling our lemonade so that they would give us their stuff and go, sir"
>Master Brightstar looks at you in surprise
"In the end, we were the only ones selling lemonade..."
>The master then does something you had never seen him do
>He laughs
>An honest to goodness laugh bellows forth from the usually stern p0ny
>As the shock fades from every p0ny in the room, the master dries his eyes and looks at you, not so coldly now
>"So, you bought them out, did you?  Interesting, Anonymous...very interesting.  And I suppose you came up with this idea yourself?"
>You nod
"Yes, sir"
>"And was your little plan profitable?  Were you making more money than you were spending?"
"We were, sir...until today when we had to buy a stall from some little fillies.  But I figured we would make it up tomorrow...Blueblood and I wrote down our figures if you want to see"
>You reach into your shirt pocket and produce a small piece of paper
>The master magically snatches the paper from your hand and holds it up, staring intently at your chicken scratch
>As he reads, the smile begins to grow on his face
>He moves the list back to you, still bearing a grin most unusual for him
>"Very impressive, Anonymous...I used to sell lemonade in the square when I was your age, but I've never seen a p0ny handle competition like that before..."
>You hear your professor sigh
>"Yes, well now that we've solved that mystery, perhaps we should-"
>The master doesn't let him finish
>"Crescent!  At what level are the boy's studies at?  What have you taught him so far?"
>Professor Sparkle contains his irritation at being interrupted again and answers
>"Well, we've been covering Equestrian history, biology, basic mathematics..."
>"But no economic theory?"
>Your professor gives the master a look
>"Not yet, no...I still fail to see what this has to do with the more important situation we have here"
>"Yes, yes, that...look, have the two said their apologies to each other?"
>Professor Sparkle looks at his son, disapprovingly
>"Not whole-heartedly..."
>"Well, I suppose it'll have to do"
>The master gives you a look you're more familiar with, one of sternness
>"Don't go fighting other p0nies or throwing things at them again, Anonymous"
"Yes, sir..."
>Master Brightstar's expression lights up again
>"Good.  Now that that's all over with, Blueblood, you're excused.  Go to your room and think about what you've done, or something"
>Blueblood doesn't waste any time and scampers off
>Lucky...
>"As for YOU...I'd like to have a chat with you in my office, Anonymous"
>You gulp
>The master catches your look of fear and chuckles
>"Come along, now, it's not what you think.  I have an...offer for you, if you're interested"
>As the master begins to leave, Professor Sparkle calls out to him
>"Exactly what kind of offer, Brightstar?"
>The master turns, angrily back in the professor's direction
>"It's none of your concern, Sparkle, take your colt and head home"
>"It IS my concern when you're talking about the student you've charged me with.  It IS my concern when you decide to alter any part of the deal you made with the Canterlot Science Institute"
>Wait, deal?  You hadn't heard about a deal...
>The master shifts, uneasily, regarding the professor with dislike
>"Fine.  If you must know...do you remember Inkblot, my head butler, my vizier, the one who manages all my affairs?  He's getting on in years, isn't he?"
>Master Brightstar raises a brow and smirks at your teacher
>You think there was something you were supposed to get, but it escapes you
>It doesn't escape the professor however, who gasps
>"You can't be serious!"
>"And why not?"
>"He...he's not ready for that?"
>"Well, he won't be starting tomorrow...we DO train p0nies for the job, you know"
>"And would Anonymous have a say in all this?"
>"Of course!  We're going to talk about it in my office, it'll be his choice"
>The back and forth leaves you extremely perplexed.  What the hay were these two talking about?
>You look at Shining for help, but he just sticks his tongue out at you
>What a dick...
>"You can't POSSIBLY expect Anonymous to be able to make that kind of choice, a potentially life altering one, at 10 years old, do you?!"
>Professor Sparkle is angrily staring down the master, gritting his teeth
>The master, on the other hoof, just smiles confidently
>"Really?  As I recall, your daughter, also 10 years old I might add, made a very similar choice recently?  Something to do with her Highness, hmmm?"
>The professor balks at the accusation, before fumbling over his next sentence
>"Th-that...that was different!"
>Brightstar shrugs
>"And I think it was the same thing.  And when it comes to the growth and development of my servants, my thoughts carry far more weight than yours"
>"He's not your property, Brightstar!"
>"Neither is he yours.  That's why he gets to choose"
>The professor sighs, clearly beaten
>"Councilor Brightstar...I cannot recommend this for Anonymous.  If you would at least wait until he was older..."
>"No.  I've heard enough of your argument, and I find it to be lacking.  Good day, Professor Sparkle"
>The blue p0ny hangs his head in defeat
>"Come on, Shining...let's go home"
>As the two of them begin to leave, Professor Sparkle turns to you suddenly
>His face looks sad and pained
>"Anonymous..."
>He trots over and holds out a hoof for you to shake
>As you oblige, he speaks softly
>"Keep in touch, okay?"
>That worries you
"Professor...we'll still have lessons, won't we?"
>He suddenly can't meet your gaze and turns to leave
>"Anonymous!"
>The master's voice echoes out behind you
>With one last look at your teacher, you turn to follow the master
>Before long, you two reach his office and he tells you to sit in the chair in front of his massive desk
>You were almost never allowed in here...the office was filled to the brim with forbidden things
>Enormous bookshelves lined with tomes covered the walls, papers and folders were stacked on the side of the desk, there were busts of great p0nies from long ago, a globe, framed legal documents covered the spaces that the bookshelves didn't...
>"Come on, Anonymous, I can't hold this all day"
>You snap out of your wonderment to see a glass of water hovering in front of you
"Apologies, sir" you state as you take the glass from its magical suspension
>Brightstar pays no heed and sits in his big chair on the opposite side of the desk
>He takes a swig from his newly-poured glass of brandy and you do so as well with your water
>"How's the head treating you, boy?"
>You rub your face painfully
"Still ringing, sir"
>He grunts
>"That's a shame, but it'll heal in time.  All things do"
>He takes another gulp before laying the glass on the table
>"Now, I know you must have a lot of questions for me, but I have some of my own, so I want you to listen and answer as best you can, alright?"
>You simply nod
"Yes, sir"
>"Good.  So..."
>He leans forward on the desk
>"Do you know why I mandate that you go to school?  Why I have Professor Sparkle teach you?"
>Good, an easy one, you know the answer to this
"So that I can get a good education.  Something that all p0nies need, and that when I grow up, I will have more options for-"
>"No, Anonymous..."
>The master interjects
>"Don't give me the answer that Sparkle made you recite, I want to hear why YOU think I'm giving you an education"
>But...you thought that was the reason
>You wrack your brain trying to come up with an answer
"I...don't really know, sir"
>He leans back in his chair
>"Well, at least you're honest...to be truthful, your first answer was half right...the other half..."
>Brightstar takes another swig from his glass
>"...The other half of it is that I've been testing you, watching you"
>Testing you?
>Brightstar gets out of his chair, taking his glass with him, and moves to window
>Peering out, he continues
>"I shouldn't have to tell you that your species is very new to Equestria...we know next to nothing about your kind and I aimed to fix that"
>He finishes off his glass
>"And I have not been disappointed..."
"But you knew my mother, sir.  You knew about her and what she could do"
>You inwardly curse yourself for interrupting the master.  Of the little you knew of him, you did know that he hated being interrupted
>Rather than chastising you, however, Brightstar's expression suddenly becomes sad
>"Yes...yes, I did...but only for a short time, I'm afraid"
>He thinks for a moment before a sad smile creeps on to his face
>"You actually remind me a lot of her...she was quite full of energy and spirit...I always regretted not being able to-"
>He shakes his head suddenly, and clears his throat
>"Well, enough of that...it's not important right now"
>The master turns back to you and smiles, warmly this time
>"Like I was saying, you've proven to be capable at the manual labor I've assigned to you in the house, and you know your manners...at least when you think somep0ny in authority is watching"
>He raises a brow, knowingly, and you sheepishly turn away
>Guess he found out about your little game of hide and scare the crap out of the other servants...
>"But it seems where you really excel is in your academics.  Professor Sparkle has let me look over your test scores, and you have received very high marks, especially in mathematics"
>He returns to the liquor cabinet behind him and pours another drink
>Well...you did have a thing for numbers, they just seemed to click, make sense to you
>Brightstar returns to his seat at the desk, nursing his beverage
>"And as I'm finding out now, you've also displayed a level of business sense"
>He chuckles
>"Buying out your competitors...at 10, no less!"
>The master's face becomes serious again
>"Now, I don't know whether these abilities are the result of your species, or just innate to you.  Perhaps it doesn't matter.  What I do know is that if these abilities are nurtured and capitalized on, you could develop very valuable skills, skills that would improve your life and the lives of those around you"
>You open your mouth to speak, unsure if it would be acceptable
>The master eyes you, inquisitively, prompting you to go on
"Sir, what kind of skills?  And how would I, um, develop them?"
>The grin returns to Brightstar's face
>"I'm glad you asked, Anonymous.  Tell me, do you know what it is that Inkblot does for me?"
"Well...he's the head butler, he tells the servants what to do, and he acts as your adviser, right, sir?"
>Brighstar nods
>"Quite right.  More accurately, he is my vizier.  There are many duties necessary for being a councilor.  Many of which I simply don't have the time for, or the interest in, performing"
"Like what, sir?"
>"Oh, you know, attending dinner parties to represent my interests to the important p0nies there, managing the affairs of the mansion like you said, processing documents, but most importantly..."
>Brighstar's grin grows a little
>"He manages my accounts.  My finances.  I have a lot of bits tied up in many of Equestria's businesses and he plans the investments of my House accordingly.  It takes a head for numbers and financial strategy to do that, Anonymous"
>It finally clicks into place for you
"S-Sir?  Are you asking me to be...?"
>"In time, Anonymous"
>He hops off his chair and trots around the desk towards you
>"Like I said, I've been watching you for some time now and my observations have made me wonder if I should offer you this position.  After the events of today, my mind has been made up"
>The master clears his throat and stands before your chair, head held high
>"I'd like to take you under my wing, as it were.  Take control of your studies and help you become Inkblot's eventual replacement when he decides he no longer wants to work for me"
>You almost can't believe your ears
>You?  Become head butler and vizier to Master Brightstar?
>You're not sure you could do that...
>As if he could sense your internal conflict, the master continues
>"Think about it, Anonymous...the position of vizier comes with a great deal of power and bits, as well as interesting challenges and work.  You wouldn't be taking orders anymore, you would be giving them!"
>Wow...you...actually telling other p0nies what to do for a change
>All your life, you had known servitude, taking orders and never being able to choose anything for yourself
>You can't deny that the prospect of being in charge for once is tempting...
>"And I know that with that head on your shoulders, and with my tutelage, you would make an excellent vizier.  One who would be greatly rewarded for his efforts, and would be able to live a rich, full, interesting life"
>As you ponder the prospect of being rich and powerful, a thought strikes
"Sir, Professor Sparkle didn't think this was a good idea...why would he think that?"
>Brightstar's expression falls and he sighs
>"Crescent Sparkle is a good p0ny, Anonymous...but he can be short sighted...it pains me to speak of this, but I feel I have a confession to make to you"
>He meets your gaze again
>"When you were a baby, I showed you to the doctors at the Canterlot Science Institute and they couldn't get enough of you...they wanted to take you themselves and raise you in the lab there"
>You shudder, thinking about that place and how much you would hate to live there
>"Luckily for both of us, my wife wasn't going to have any of that, but we both saw the value in studying you.  Getting an understanding of your biology helped us raise you and feed you appropriately.  Which brings us to the 'deal' you heard Professor Sparkle mention..."
>He grimaces and takes another drink
>"I agreed to let the doctors run tests on you, in return for getting Professor Sparkle to be your private tutor.  After all, he's one of the best scientists in Canterlot, and if anyp0ny was going to be interfering in your life, I wanted it to be him"
>He grunts and moves back over to the window
>"I know it may sound like a shady deal, and one that you weren't a part of, and for that I sincerely apologize.  But, now, Anonymous..."
>Brightstar turns back to you
>"Now, I'm giving you a choice.  You can either continue receiving lessons from Professor Sparkle as well as undergoing the scientists' tests until you become an adult.  At which point, you will be free to leave this place and go out into the world to do as you please"
>He smiles again
>"Or you can become my student, instead.  In which case the deal with the Science Institute will be null and void, meaning no more tests, and you will eventually take up the mantle of my personal adviser, my vizier.  Guaranteeing you a career for the rest of your life, if you so choose"
>Brightstar approaches you again
>"So, Anonymous, what's it going to be?"
>Your head is spinning
>One one hand, you really hated going to the Institute...and now that you know that Professor Sparkle only taught you because he had been traded in a deal...you didn't like to feel used like that
>On the other hand, did you really want to take Inkblot's job eventually?
>Sure, he had power, he got to do whatever he wanted, but could you do what he did?
>As Brightstar waits for your answer, the gears in your head begin to slow their spinning
>You could live like Brightstar and Blueblood...you could hold as much power as them...you could be more than some weird creature who couldn't even get inside the palace grounds without an escort...
>You could be next to royalty...
>You look to your master and smile
"I accept your offer, sir"
>His eyes and grin widen
>"Splendid, Anonymous!  I'm so glad you've decided to work with me!  We'll start on your training first thing tomorrow!  But there is one thing..."
>Brightstar scurries behind his desk, rifling through the drawers before returning to you
>In his hoof, he holds his House seal, an identical copy of the one Blueblood carried with him, entwined stars and all
>He orders you to stand before holding out the object in his hoof, prompting you to take it
>When you hold the seal in your hand, he speaks in a commanding tone
>"Swear the oath to me, Anonymous.  Give me your House oath that you will learn from and obey me"
>Shock nearly overwhelms you
"B-But, Sir...I can't...I'm not a-"
>"From this day forth, you are, Anonymous.  You are now my vizier in training, and that makes you a member of my House.  Inkblot gave my grandmother this oath when he was just a colt, and you shall do the same for me"
>You wrack your brain, remembering the correct words
"I give you my oath, Master Brightstar.  My very word as a son of the House of the Wandering Stars...I will learn from you and obey your commands.  This oath is more dear to me than my very life"
>Brightstar practically splits his face, beaming
>Seeing his pride in you, at your willingness to learn, makes you feel happy.  Almost like you finally had somep0ny in your life that you could call a father...calling him that would be pushing it, but you still liked that feeling
>"You hang on to that, kid.  Consider it an early birthday present.  Use it whenever you need access to anything in Equestria.  P0nies are bound by law to obey a councilor's seal"
>You grasp the seal tightly in your fist, never wanting to let it go
"Thank you, sir" you whisper
>He extends a hoof and you firmly shake it
>"Welcome aboard, Anonymous.  I think this is the beginning of something wonderful.  For both of us"

End of Chapter 1