Something for Everyone

It was a beautiful day in Ponyville park, and three ponies in particular were discussing Scootaloo's recent summons to Cloudsdale for a year's service in whatever branch of government she chose. "I must say, Fluttershy, you're just about the last pony I imagined would support conscription."

"It's not conscription, it's public service. That's quite an important difference."

"Exactly!" interrupted Rainbow Dash, as was her habit. "Nopony's saying Scootaloo has to join the military! She can do whatever she wants for her year."

"I guess I just don't get these pegasus customs, then."

Rainbow Dash realised that she might never get an opportunity like this again. "Would you like to know more?" she asked. In response, Fluttershy giggled. "Heh. I always wanted to say that." Fluttershy nodded through the tale end of her giggling.

"OK, can we start with that? Because, speaking of not getting things..."

"Oh, it's a joke about the posters they put up to advertise everything you can do your national service in. Like, uh, they say things like 'Join the civil engineering corps! Let your work stand tall for years to come! Would you like to know more?'" This time, a few of the other pegasi in earshot chorused the last line. "And the pony they get for the posters always looks like they're either the biggest dweeb you can imagine, or bored out of their mind."

Fluttershy picked up the explanation. "And it's important to consider that Scootaloo can do her year of service and never be in any danger at all. I spent my year doing paperwork, for example. You know, making sure the gendarmerie got enough uniforms and supplies and things. It was really quite relaxing."

Rainbow Dash cocked her head. "You were in the commissariat? I always assumed you went for the ambulance service."

Fluttershy blushed. "Uh, don't tell anypony, but I actually kind of flunked pony biology. They don't let you in anything like that if you're not already partway trained for it. Oh, but, uh, my maths scores were good enough that the commissariat would take me, and it seemed like a nice helpful way of spending my year. I got to wear this cute hat, as well. It had a little visor on it and everything."

"Fluttershy, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but in the gendarmerie we all thought your hats made you look like a bunch of dorks."

"Oh, I know that. Whenever anypony said it to our face, we'd forget to issue them soap for a month, to teach them good manners."

"Wow. We all thought you guys were just incompetent."

"And if anypony said that, they went without for two months."

"Well, apart from a soap shortage, what can Scootaloo expect to get out of this?"

"Eh. Right to vote, right to own her own house, that kind of thing. You know, citizen stuff."

"You mean she isn't a citizen already, on account of having been born there?"

"Nope. First you get your cutie mark, then you do your year of service, then you're a citizen. Because..." Twilight could hear all the pegasi in the park drawing breath "Service guarantees citizenship!"

Fluttershy giggled again. "You know, we really ought to explain these things more often. I didn't think I'd ever get to use that old cornball."