Bringing Harmony

They followed Orange Julius, making sure to watch out for other ponies. They got a few curious glances from the other workers, as they bucked oranges from the trees. Most of the ponies were just too busy and exhausted to notice, or to care. All six mares wondered how the situation in Gardenia had seemingly managed to dash pretty much all fun and hope from the orchards here. Even when ponies at Sweet Apple Acres were working hard, they still had fun, talking with friends, or goofing off. Here, there was nothing even close to that.
Soon the small group saw a massive stone wall that ran as far as they could see.

“Woah! That wall is HUGE!” Exclaimed Pinkie.

“It doesn’t end.” Stated Applejack in awe.

They continued on until Orange Julius approached a plain wooden door. “This is one of tha only doors in Mountreal that doesn’t have guards, n’ that’s because it requires a key,” Julius pulled a key out of his backpack and unlocked the door. “There are three of these keys in town: mine, tha farm owner’s key, and the Queen’s master key.”

“Woah, Julie! You must be important!” Pinkie said, popping up behind the blue pony.

Julius looked away. “Not important enough.” He muttered. Louder he said: “Follow me. Don’t stray or get lost.”

He opened the door and they stepped inside. The door revealed a huge house, marble floors, and high ceilings. The walls were white and lined with expensive paintings of ancient ponies with fancy clothes and white powdered wigs.

“Wow.” whispered Rarity. “What I wouldn’t give to live in a place like this.”

“Your freedom? Your job? Your friends and family?” asked Julius accusingly.

There was a tense moment of awkward silence, before Pinkie Pie poked her head around the corner of a wall into an industrial sized kitchen. “Look at this kitchen!” She hollered with a grin. “Just think of how many cupcakes I could bake in here!” She began to bounce from counter to sink to oven.

“What is this place?” questioned Twilight.

“This house belongs to the owner of the farm. Queen Gardenia decided he would be wealthy. So he has this house, n’ she has his loyalty. It’s a despicable system, n’ somepony needs to make it collapse.” Orange Julius frowned. “I have seen it tear apart more families than I had ever wanted or expected to see.” He shook his head despairingly. “Whoever this Princess of yours is, Ah’m glad she decided to send you six when she did.”

Julius seemed sad about the statement. He turned and walked out of the kitchen with the rest following.

“We needed to come. There wasn’t any other options for us, or for Equestria.” Twilight looked down solemnly. “Gardenia’s influence is starting to inch closer and closer to our borders, and nopony knows when the first attack would come. Our army would definitely win a war, but the losses would just be too much. If it can be prevented, it needs to be.” Twilight insisted, a determined tone creeping into her voice.

“Ah cannot leave tha house without being questioned. Look around town, but be very careful. Tell nopony why you are here. Ah suggest making your way over to the care center. Doc Vigor should be helpful in your quest. If ya run into any trouble ask to speak with me. Understand?”

He received a few nods, two said yes, and one enthusiastic “Okie doki loki!”

“Make sure you watch out for ponies with white tracking bracelets. Those are the Guardponies who report directly to Gardenia. Return here by EIGHT pm. That’s curfew. We should have enough beds.” He finished walking the group to the door, and gave a short wave as he shooed the six mares out the door.