Amaya Ever After

Written By: Cloudline Dasher

Edited By: N/A

Chapter Three: Contracts and Horsefeathers

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/Day 36 in Equestria\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Almost stumbling to a halt, Amaya placed her hand on the spa. Rainbow had already been there for possibly a few minutes, and hadn't even broken a sweat. The female human however, was panting and heaving up a lung. In the past she wasn't one for sports or even exercise for that matter. She had to admit, thanks to Dash, she had probably lost some weight, and expected that with Dash around, she would definitely put on some muscle.

“Geeze, you sound like you're about to drop dead!” Rainbow teased, but Amaya could faintly hear honest worry in her voice.

“Ha...” Amaya panted, falling silent as she removed her hand from the wall and stood straight, “Ha...”

Dash shuffled her gaze for a moment, before taking a step closer, “Seriously though... are you alright?”

“Yeah, just give me a minute.” Amaya smiled, already gaining her breath back.

Once her breathing was slowed to a steady breath, and her heart calmed, they pushed their way through the front doors. The cool interior was a large change to the almost uncomfortably warmth outside. Up in the corners of the main lobby hung speakers that played gentle sounds of water trickling down a stream. Stepping up to the counter, Amaya tapped the small metal bell, which chimed throughout the building. They instantly heard, “Please make yourself comfortable while we finish up with our current customers.”

Amaya and Dash glanced to one another, before turning their attention to the seats. It was just like in the human world. Except each chair was elongated for ponies to comfortably lay across it. The chairs also happened to be far lower to the ground for easy access by anyone. Amaya however, being a tall biped, had to consider either uncomfortably sitting in one, or sitting in the floor. Dash took notice of her friends rather audible sigh and followed suit as she sat in the floor.

Rainbow was about to lay down next to her, when Amaya stopped, “You can sit down in the chair, I don't mind.”

The cyan mare looked over to the chair, before returning her eyes to Amaya, “I don't really feel comfortable sitting in a soft chair while you're in the floor. Just doesn't seem right to me.”

It didn't take any convincing as the human merely nodded, motioning Dash over to her. At first, Amaya had been taken aback at the ponies need to show affection, to even a friend. They would often enough rub shoulders, nuzzle cheek to cheek, or even lay down together. However much Amaya hated to admit it, she was gradually starting to get used to it. Even if she would sometimes forget and shy away.

The prismatic mare crossed her forehooves in front of her, and lowered her head as her human friend reached over her body. Amaya grabbed a newspaper from a coffee table and glanced at the front page. She let out a sigh and shook her head, “Blueblood made the front page again...”

Flashing the newspaper her way, Rainbow instantly was met with a picture of a disheveled Blueblood in front of an angry Celestia. She was about to read aloud, but the newspaper was hastily pulled away. Amaya read aloud before Dash could ask what it said, “Today, Princess Celestia and the supposed 'royal' was found in the Canterlot court yard. Celestia had been said to be deciding the stallions punishment for the use of Starswirl's staff. Our ruler and Princess was overheard, saying these words, “Blueblood, no matter the ties your ancestors have to me, your actions could have possibly doomed us all. However, due to you being family I will go lenient on you. For now forth, you will have to work at anything you hope to achieve. Clarinet will be the heir to your fortune. You however, will need to either beg her for mercy, or get used to having a commoners job.”

“Serves him right...” Dash murmured, her mind drifting over to Rarity and how the arrogant stallion had treated her at the Gala.

“I think he deserves worse... He is the sole reason I'm stuck in this world. I could have been back home as a masseuse, working under a doctor until I started my own practice.” Amaya frowned, her heart aching and her anger flaring.

She failed to notice her pegasi friend's ears droop. Dash shuffled slightly as she spoke, “Yeah, but then we wouldn't be friends. That has to count for something, doesn’t it?”

Her anger instantly vanished as Amaya eyed her friend, guilt sinking into her gut, “W-well... yeah... And I wouldn't trade that for the world...”

“Then what about at least trying to be happy here? Just look how successful that other human Lumiere was in Canterlot? You could be just as successful here in Ponyville!” Dash smiled hopeful, her eyes locked on her friend.

Lowering the newspaper, Amaya fell quiet. She glanced over the picture of Blueblood and Celestia, 'I suppose I could give it a try... My family has probably already had a funeral for me.' Glancing over to her pony friend, she softly smiled, which Dash couldn't help but return the gesture, 'My friends really care for me. I could give it a try, I suppose.'

“Amaya!” An overly excited Aloe yelled as she neared the two, “And Miss Rainbow Dash! Oh how wonderful!”

Getting up from the floor, Amaya pulled the passes from her pocket and presented them to Aloe, “I got these in the mail, I know you have walk ins, but if you're too busy--”

“Of course not, darling!” Lotus chimed as she stepped from the back.

Two random ponies stepped out the front door, apparently refreshed. They were probably the previous customers for a message. Aloe stepped over to the door, flipping the sign to closed. Amaya watched them curiously, “Why did you--”

“I will be blunt with you, hun. We wish for you to work for us, and we are willing to bargain for your contract.” Aloe smiled, stepping behind the counter before pulling out a two page contract and placing it onto the counter top.

“C-contract?” Amaya went slightly wide eyed.

“Contract?! What are you two trying to pull?” Dash grabbed hold of Amaya's hand with her teeth and tugged her, releasing long enough to speak, “Come on, we should have Twilight present if you're going to sign anything!”

“You can fully read it yourself, but it's just a basic one year contract where you work for us. Most of the contract is just benefits and blanks for anything we need to 'add' to get you to work for us!” Lotus added with an honest and innocent smile.

Amaya shuffled her gaze in between the two ponies, before Dash tugged her friends hand once more, “Working for you is one thing, but what if she had only one chance at going home? She would lose it because she would have to stay here and work for you!”

“That is also in here!” Aloe stated in a sing song voice, “She can quit at any time if it means going back to Earth. Otherwise she stays with us!”

The colorful pegasi glanced up to Amaya, but currently the humans gaze was focused on the contract on the table, apparently reading it. Everypony suddenly grew quiet, allowing the human to think for the moment. After a moment or two, Amaya grabbed the pen, but Dash jumped forward grabbing her arm, “If this is what you want to do, fine! But at least negotiate a bit, maybe you could get a bonus or something?”

“Yes Amaya!” Lotus smiled bright, looking to her sister, whom just nodded in approval, “We are ready to offer a full paid vacation for you and another if you accept. You don't even need to start work until the vacation is over!”

“H-how... how long?” Amaya stuttered, her hand relaxing and Dash reluctantly pulled away.

“You mean the vacation? A week, and the destination is negotiable. So what do you say?” Aloe stated, using a hoof to push the contract a few inches more toward the human.

For a moment Amaya eyed the contract, but her gaze was stolen as her rainbow maned friend spoke, “What are the destinations?”

Darting under the counter, Aloe resurfaced with several brochures, “Granted, we cannot afford the more, shall we say... spots fit for royalty. However! You can choose from Canterlot, Crystal Empire, or Neighagra falls.”

Lotus reached across the counter to flip open each of the three pamphlets, “Canterlot has plenty of sights to see, like Canterlot gardens. It was where Discord was trapped in stone, of course with him free again, his particular statue is no longer there. You can also get to see the Princesses raise and lower the moon each dusk and dawn. Crystal Empire has the Crystal sports that are usually hosted by Prince Shining Armor. Then there is Neighagra falls. It was created as a tourists rest spot. Plenty of mixed culture from the Griffons, all the way to Zebra's and horses from Saddle Arabia. The restaurants there have a vast variety to say the least.”

Looking over to her right, Amaya and Dash locked eyes for a moment. The cyan mare let out a soft sigh as she released her friends arm, “It's you're choice, it's just contracts are a big deal here in Equestria. You could get in a lot of trouble if you don't uphold your end of it.”

“It's pretty much a sign of trust. You promise to do something and if you don't, you spend time in prison.” Rainbow stated with a sour taste in her mouth, but decided to let her friend decide for herself. At least their was a way to opt out if there was a way back to Earth.

Lowering the pen to the paper, Amaya quickly signed her name. Aloe and Lotus quickly smiled as they took turns shaking her hand. Aloe pulled away the contract as she pulled on a painting that opened like a cabinet door. Behind it lay a safe that with a few combinations, opened to reveal paperwork, bits, and other items. Once the Contract was inside, the safe was sealed and the painting covering it. Lotus smiled as she stated, “You can head to your vacation Monday. Just choose a destination and we will have everything set up for you.”

Stepping around the counter, Aloe motioned for the hall, “Now, how about that free massage?”

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The way home was rather quiet as Dash walked alongside her human companion. The sun was lowering, but they had a good hour of light left at best. Deciding to be delicate about the situation, Dash decided to ask, “So which of the three spots are you wanting to go to?”

“I'm not sure... I'd like to go to Canterlot one day to see Lumiere, and to see what he is like, but I've heard of Neighagra Falls, and really want to go there.”

“Well, you can always just go to Canterlot for a visit. It isn't that far away. Why not go to Neighagra? It may be your only chance to go.” Rainbow noticed her own negative tone, but for the life of her couldn't sound more happy for her.

“Is something wrong, Dash?” Amaya furrowed her brow in worry, knowing it possibly had something to do with the contract she just signed.

“I just don't want you getting in trouble. I've seen ponies in contracts that didn't fully read it, or there were hidden loopholes which they had to do terrible things to not go to jail.” Rainbow turned her head forward to make sure her friend couldn't see her frown.

“Have you been in a contract before?” Amaya had to ask.

Dash grimaced as her ears tucked back, “No... but that was how Derpy ended up with Dinky...”

Amaya fell speechless, but continued her walking. Once on the edge of Ponyville, Dash's cloud home came into view. Turning to face her friend, Dash sighed, “Anyway, I did have fun with you. Maybe you will have more days off now, and we can hang out more.”

“Yeah...” Amaya smiled, hating how awkward the moment seemed to feel. Dash was about to fly up to her home before Amaya reached out, “Dash!”

Stopping in mid flight, Dash turned around to meet her friend eye to eye, “Something wrong?”

“Would you want to go to Neighagra with me?”

Rainbow's eyes went wide for a moment, and a smile crept onto her face, “But... I thought you would take Jade? She's your sister isn't she?”

“Not a real sister, Dash... She's an awesome friend, but I don't want to spend all my time with her. I would rather spend my vacation with you.”

The prismatic pegasi fell silent for a moment, her wings beating faster, with a grin forming on her face. When her eyes returned to Amaya's, she chuckled, “Sure, I wouldn't mind a vacation.” Dash was about to turn away when she paused, “What are you going to do about Tulip?”

“I'll finish out the week and give her ample time to find a replacement. Friday will be my last day and then we will take the train that night. Should reach Neighagra by Sunday morning I suspect.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Rainbow smiled with enthusiasm this time, but soon her face softened into a hesitant unsure glare, “I'm glad you're trying to be happy here. Who knows, you might find a cute stallion.” She finished by blowing a raspberry at her tall friend.

Averting her eyes, Amaya simply blushed, “Uh... yeah... about that...”

The cyan mares ears flickered as she took the moment to land back on the ground, looking up to her friend, “hmm?”

“I don't... well... let me put it this way, do griffons and ponies ever get together?” Amaya rubbed her arm with her hand, hoping Dash could clarify a few things that ran through her mind.

Dash tilted her head in confusion, having an idea of where this was heading, but wasn't entirely sure, “Yeah, in fact I've dated one back in junior speedsters. I've also dated a buffalo, inter-species relationships are rare, but they're not really frowned upon, and I suppose lately they are becoming increasingly more popular, why?”

“Just a couple conversations I had with Jade. She says she loves it here, and is going to stay, but then the other day she said that she can't picture dating a pony because it feels like bestiality to her. I just wanted to see what you thought about it.” Amaya glanced down to her pegasi friend, worry striking her as she noticed the confusion on the mares face.

“B-bestiality? That's where you mate with an animal right? How is it bestiality to be with a pony?” Rainbow couldn't seem to wrap her mind around it, but her eyes remained glued to her friend to clarify.

“Well, we have ponies back in our world, but they don't talk. They are like Winona, Owlicious, Opal, or any other animal. I tried telling her that you're not an animal because you are sentient, but I guess she can't look past the exterior.”

“Whoa whoa!” Dash yelled out, flaring out her wings, almost taking to the air, “Are you sure JADE is the one that said all this?”

“Y-yeah... Unless a shapeshifter replaced her.” Amaya raised her brow.

“Jade is with a herd. I hardly think she has any problems dating a pony!” Dash couldn't help her frown, knowing for a fact her friend wouldn't lie about this, but maybe she had misinformation.

Amaya's mouth fell open and closed, mouthing some inaudible words as if trying to sort through a dumbfounded amount of information, “What?! Are you sure?”

“Uh... yeah!” Dash chuckled, waving her hoof idly through the air, “She's currently with Pinkie and her stallion.”

“Wait... She's with two ponies? Like polygamy or something?”

“Well yeah, that is what a herd is, you know?” Dash looked up to the humans confusion, and then it dawned on her, “That's right... most humans are monogamous aren't they?”

Simply answering her with a node, Rainbow continued, “Yeah, thanks to some advice from Rarity, the first date was the whole nine yards. Jade wore a bracelet to signify the courtship. Rarity is... also quite the gossip. She is all the time ranting one thing or another about Jade and Caramel.”

“Caramel?” Amaya murmured, but it was loud enough for the pegasi to hear.

“Yeah, a stallion that lives in town. Anyway, they have been together for about a week now. You humans have only been here a month yet she seems to have jumped right into a relationship, so I don't know why she would say that stuff.” Dash frowned, not helping the unbelieving look she was giving.

Falling silent, Amaya let her gaze fall to the ground, completely dumbfounded at the news. Then it clicked, and the rage built as if she should have seen it before, “She really was just trying to get under my skin!”

“U-under your skin? That's...” Rainbow grimaced as a shiver ran down her spine, “That's just disturbing.”

Amaya blinked, but let out a chuckle, “It's just a saying, Dash.”

“Didn't stop me from picturing it!” Dash let out a sigh as she shook her head to try and shake the image loose, “Anyway, why did you bring all this up anyway? Do you have a crush on somepony?” At the end of her sentence, Dash instantly hoped the answer was a no, but deep down she hoped it was a yes, and that yes was her.

Rainbow blinked when she realized what she had just thought, but quickly attempted to run off the thought as her attention returned to Amaya, “It just got me thinking was all. I instantly tried to defend ponies, saying they weren't animals and if anything if you are animals, then humans are too. However, that got me thinking, would I date a pony?”

Dash's mouth went dry, and her heart skipped a beat. She couldn't hardly believe Amaya's self question scared her, but had to ask, “And would you?”

“If somepony took a deep enough interest in me, I suppose I could.” Amaya turned her eyes to the sky, but was simply met with the underside of Dash's mansion like cloud home.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Dash raised her brow.

Shrugging her shoulders, Amaya let out a sigh, “I guess what I'm saying is, I'm not worried about being with anyone, pony or otherwise. But if someone comes along that seriously likes me enough to get to know me and wants to take it further, then fine.”

They both fell silent, and a small grin crept onto Dash's face as if a secret hope swelled in her chest. The silence was cut short as flapping noises could be heard, followed by several birds exiting Dash's home. Darting up into the air, Dash cussed, “Oh horsefeathers!”

Amaya just merely giggled as she waved, “I'll let you get back to remodeling. See you tomorrow, Dash!”

Dash paused momentarily to turn around in the air, waving her hoof, “See ya!”

Turning back toward town, Amaya took her leave. Rainbow couldn't help but watch as she left, 'Why was I so interested if she would date a pony or not?' Wincing, something wet, thick, and rather sticky fell onto her head, “HORSEFEATHERS!”

Author's Note

I hope this story is interesting to you folks. I always feel like I'm either rushing, or boring everypony. Which is probably why I rush so much, I don't want to bore ya! lmao... Anywho, I'll do my best, and hopefully it will be enjoyable!