The birth of the white unicorn was to be celebrated by every high noble pony. This unicorn was blessed with a beautiful golden mane. Gold was always something the Rich family liked. Gold to them resembled great wealth and pony superiority. Gold resembled this family well. If you were to be seen, you must be well combed and have a gift prepared. If you did not, the family would discard you into the lower class and cast over you more taxes. This family was also well disliked. Ponies often saw them as the "pure form of royal snobness". The Rich family discarded that saying to, saying that they were the kindest noble family there was.
The white unicorn was named Ruby Rich after the color of her magenta eyes. She was the daughter of Royal Rich and her husband, Crazy Rich. Crazy Rich was the older brother of Dirty Rich. The main reason Royal Rich married the Rich pony was to save her sister from starvation. It was said that her sister never wanted to marry, but was too poor to support herself. Crazy had fallen in love with this poor mare. He tried to convince her to change her mind. The sister refused, sticking to her promise to never marry. Crazy married her younger sister, Royal, to at least save her from death. The sister now lived with the Rich family, and was close friends with her brother-in-law. Ruby Rich came ten years after their marriage. Royal loved her daughter, and wanted her to grow up to help lower ponies. Her father, though, wanted her to become a princess. After much arguing, the two agreed to let their daughter choose at the age of thirteen.
Ruby grew up with influence of cruelty to the lower class. Ruby often asked her parents what they had ever done to them.
"They refused to gift us. As royal, we should be gifted every day," her father would answer.
"Nothing, for our family is greedy. Do not become like them. Help those in need," her mother would answer, then hug her daughter, whispering," One day, I'll leave. I'll go off to help other ponies till I die. One day, I hope you will escape too." Ruby favorited her mother. Her father would love her with gifts and money. Her mother would love her with her heart. This is why when Ruby asked her mother to sign her up for music classes, her mother not only signed her up, but also bought her a music box to listen to music. Her mother rarely bought her presents, so the music box meant a lot to Ruby.
Ruby went to music camp one summer. The ponies there always seemed to be happy with what they had. Her father had sent her with great luxury. First class meals, clean blankets, soft pillows, and tons of stuffed animals. Ruby was often adored by ponies who were mean to others. Disliking their attitudes, Ruby tried to escape them. One day, she had had enough.
"You know, just because I'm rich doesn't mean I want to be friends with the rich!" she yelled one day as a filly bullied an innocent filly. Ruby walked up to the bully and said," Why don't you leave her alone?" Everypony was surprised at this outburst. They all left her to the filly. Ruby walked up to the filly, and sat down next to her for lunch.
"Hi. What's your name?" The filly was a yellow pegasus with a fiery mane. She, like Ruby, was a blank flank. Her left wing was wrapped up in a bandage.
"Spitfire. The flightless pegasus," she murmured back. She was depressed, and didn't look like she was enjoying the camp like Ruby was (other than the whole friend thing).
"I'm Ruby. A Rich family member," Ruby stated," Why do you sit alone?"
"No pony wants to friends with a handicap," Spitifre replied," Sure, they'll be overly kind and try to be super nice to you, but that's only temporarily. Later on, they just all turn their backs on you." Ruby could see this pony was lonely and wanting real friends.
"You seem fine to me. I don't think you're handicapped."
"I am. My wing muscle and bones won't grow. Unless I get some robotic parts, my wing will forever be the size of a newborn."
"Why can't you get a robotic wing?"
"My parents can't afford it. They're apart of the lower class, which your family has orderly taxed."
"Yeah. We're stupid like that. At least your father loves you." Spitifire looked at Ruby, surprised. She had always thought that, when you're rich, your father spoils you with love.
"What do you mean? Does your father not buy you presents? What about that mountain of stuffed animals?"
"He does. But it isn't out of love. It's out of the fact that he can just spend his money. I honestly don't need those stuffed animals. Or those huge meals."
"Huh." Spitfire never thought that the rich never wanted what they had. She always thought that the rich wanted everything, and would never be satisfied.
"Probably didn't expect that? My mother says that most ponies are right to think that. But that their are some ponies, like us, who don't want those things, but want something better than items."
"What's that?"
"Love."
