Finding Hope: Hope is Lost

It had been three days or so since I had sat in on day court. Ever since then I kept coming back daily to get a feel for the way it worked. Maybe I could quit working for Blueblood and become a noble! I laughed at the thought. Rather than serving the jerk I'd have to work with him as an equal. Honestly, not a happy thought as I delved further into it.

As I was spending what was to be my free time a certain stallion with a white coat and blonde mane politely knocked on the door to the barracks. I could hear him whispering “Ugh, this part of the palace is disgusting!”

“Who is it?” I sarcastically asked, awaiting Bluebloods reply.

“It is your boss! Blueblood!” He replied “Open this icky door so I do not need to touch it!”

“Blueblood? Not Prince Blueblood? 'Bout time they denounced your title!”

“Oh shut up you filth!” Hollering through the door now “Open this door or i'll have the captain of the guard fire you!”

The captain would never listen to Blueblood. Still I did as he asked. Opening the “icky door” for him.

“Good, now clean yourself up! Day court is in fifteen minutes!” The prince barged in and quickly wandered around the room.

“What? Day court begins at noon ya doofus!” I laughed.

“Are you featherbrained or something? Aunty is leaving to meet with the Gryphon emperor you nincompoop! Day court was rescheduled to 10:00 today!”

Well if my watch was correct as well as my judgment of time then not only was he right about fifteen minutes, but we had just wasted three. With that I darted towards the guards bathroom and quickly yet sloppily brushed my teeth, combed my hair and put on pants (having only been wearing boxers and a t shirt). Then all I had was to slip my armor on and we were off to the throne room.

-The Solar Throne Room half a minute later-

Celestia entered the room and sat down a the throne. She bore the same serene (probably fake) smile that she put on every time. “Good morning everypony! Now today I'd like things to get along as quickly as possible so I've decided to start day court backwards.”

I could hear several moans from the nobles “Great! We get to listen to the commoners problems! Pfft.” Blueblood mumbled.

However I felt it would be interesting to stay for the actual “court” part of day court. Blueblood as well as most nobles usually leave before the second part so I don't get to stay and watch. First was the trial of the Apple/Carrot farmers issue from a small town named Ponyville. The Apple family farmers had a monopoly on farming all throughout Equestria. The Carrot family is struggling as the Apples “get too many customers” and the Carrots want the Apples right to farm taken away.

“Well, I can't simply take away their right to farm. What do you suppose I do?” Celestia waved her hoof. She had a smile that seemed to say she had this whole situation planned out.

“Do... something!” The one known as Carrot Top replied “They have a monopoly and it has to stop!”

“How about this. Y'all shut up and let us farm!” an orange pony with a blonde mane sarcastically announced “You can go do somethin else than farmin and we keep doin what we do.”

“Applejack, I can't do that. If I did then i'd have to do it to both of you.” Celestia explained “Applejack your family pools money from all your farms together, shared profits correct?”

“Yes yer majesty! It's how we keep other farms out of debt and failin ones a floatin! Like cousin Rotten Apple, he’s always been bad at apple farmin so we send the young-uns out to work for a few months and...”

Celestia cut off Applejack “I am aware of Rotten Apple's situation. What I'd like to do is stop the Apple family from pooling profits.”

“What?! Ya can't do that! Farms would go out of business and Apple's would have to find other work!” Applejack roared back.

What? I couldn't believe it, the princesses idea seemed too harsh, especially on Apple's who weren't even involved with this situation. “Excuse me,” I spoke up, getting the attention of both parties, as well as Princess Celestia “But what you have just suggested doesn't really make much sense to me. A few Apple family members are controlling all business in their area as most apples do, then the Carrots, a relatively small family, based in ponyville wants to challenge the local Apples for business, both ask you, the princess for help, so you completely break apart the Apple family business? That seems like it would hurt more Apple family members that aren't even involved with this issue.”

Celestia looked at me. Now with a more surprised look, but with a more honest yet judgemental smile. What? Was it what I said? Was it the fact I even said something? My thoughts seem to scream out for answers only to receive nothing. I was alone without knowing what to expect.

“Well mister Fowls,” She addressed me by name, which surprised me(I had no Idea she knew of me) “What do you suggest we do to fix this situation?”

I gulped, Celestia had now put me under the spotlight and rather than me simply challenging someone else's ideas, I know had to form my own, completely! “Well... From what I understand, the Carrot family is in need of either financial aid to properly compete with the Apple's or to have the Apple's 'slowed down' in a sense to match the Carrot's. The second Idea sounds just dumb so I think we should have the government publicly fund the Carrot farm.”

Equestria although having a mixed economy, the government had never directly took control and publically funded a business before (At least a buisness not related to healthcare, education, etc.). However history never states problems arising when the royal family got involved before.

“Hmm... Applejack would you be okay with this? Me publicly funding the Carrot farm and thus indirectly owning one of your competitors?” Celestia queried.

“Goin into business against the princess? Well, we been through tougher situations so I don't see why not.”

“Carrot Top? Are you okay with this?”

“Heck yes!” Carrot Top bellowed.

“Very well, Carrot Farms will now be publicly funded and owned by the government of equestria.” Celestia sat waved the two families out before the next case came.

-Two hours later-

“Well that was a waste of time! Why did you not wake me up when the commoners were done complaining about their slop troughs or whatever?” Blueblood had been yelling at me for the past hour since day court ended.

“You just looked so cute I couldn't bare to wake you!” I replied, riddled with sarcasm.

“Agh! You-you... Fuck it!” Blueblood was known to swear horribly when in private, and very angry. “You owe me, escort me to the finest drinking establishment in Canterlot, you will pay for me.”

-Nine hours later a few blocks away from Bluebloods mansion-

“Yo-you know whut? Yer not so bad, guy!” Blueblood smiled at me. I didn't pay much attention. Drunk, sober, happy, sad, mean or nice he was still Blueblood. “I should hic should give you a ra-raise hic... Fer bein good!” He exclaimed before falling over.

“Blueblood... We gotta go home, you're drunk.” I exclaimed “Hey what are you planning to bullshit about next day court?”

Silence.

“Blueblood?” I turn around to the empty street behind me. Blueblood nowhere in sight. “Fuck a big big bag.”