Commitment

     The sky was clear and blue as the air was fresh. Lord and madam filthy rich sat out in the court yard and watched their daughter, lady diamond tiara, chase her friend, silver spoon, around the field. Their laughs filled my ears as I prepared the morning tea. I picked up the platter and sat it down on the table next to the lord and madam. “Good morning, hooves” Mr. Rich said.

     “Good morning, my lord. Today you will be having Jam Roly-Poly; a traditional desert. It is a flat-rolled suet pudding, which is then spread with jam and rolled up, similar to a Swiss roll, then steamed or baked” I replied as I handed them the sweet, as to diamond tiara and her friend. “My Celestia, silver hooves, you have out done yourself once again!” Mrs. Rich complemented as I poured their tea. “Thank you, my lady. But if I couldn't serve my masters with proper entrées what kind of butler would I be?” I asked, handing each person their tea as the girls giggled. I smiled, but that simply faded away as several loud crashes echoed through the estate followed by crying and shouts with cockney accents. “*sigh* I still don’t see why you even hired those buffoons” madam rich said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

       “Because, my dear, even though he can be impeccable, silver can’t do everything on his own” my master said as I walked into the manor. With a slight smirk I walked up to the source of the disturbance. “What happened here?” I asked in a flat monotone voice seeing that there were several shards of glass and plate scattered across the dining room floor. Three servants (sugar heart, strong hoof, and bronze bolder) stood together and stared at me with terrified eyes. “Well?” I said somewhat aggressive.

     After a meager amount of time, the three delinquents stopped quivering, fell to the canvas, and began grabbing at my trousers. “Please, silver, I didn’t mean it. I was only trying to get the table ready for dinner later today!” sugar heart bawled into my leg; I could see her thick glasses begin fog from her tears. “This is the fourth time this week. If this keeps up well have to order more” I said brushing them off. “You two…” I said pointing at strong hoof and bronze bolder “get a broom and a dust pan. I want this cleaned up before tea is over. Do I make myself clear?”. “Sir, yes sir” the two said as they ran to the kitchens pantry.

     “Sugar,” I said gaining her attention “I see that you chipped your glasses. Give them here, I’ll send it into town for repairs”. “No, sir, please! The misses gave them to me! I don’t want to give them up.” She said backing away. “As you wish, but if the problem becomes larger don’t be surprised when they goes missing overnight” I announced. “Yes, sir, Thank you, sir” she said as I exited the room. Strong hoof and bronze bolder entered the room and began to clean the mess.

     “Man that guy gives me the creeps” bronze said as he swept the floor. “I’ll say, I ‘ate the way ‘e looks at us, wit’ those devilish eyes of ‘is. Makes me feel hollow” strong hoof agreed while retrieving the shards with the dust pan. I arrived back in the court yard and saw that Mr. Rich looked worried. “Is something wrong, my lord?” I asked as he folded a letter and placed it in a used envelope that lied on the table. “Silver, you have been serving my family for ten generations now and you know how many enemies we have made over that time” he said while watching diamond play.

“Yes, sir, as I recall I vowed to protect and serve your family ever since your ancestor, Julius Rich, signed our contract” I replied.

“Good. The reason I ask is because I don’t have that much time left and I worry about my daughter”

“Yes. Lady Tiara is growing to be a fine young woman”

“Silver, I want you to do something for me”

“Certainly, master”

     “Whatever happens to me and my wife, I want you to protect diamond and our home” he said turning to me. “As you wish, my lord, but let’s hope that nothing will happen to you” I said as I poured his tea. Hours later, bronze bolder and I were making dinner as sugar heart and strong hoof set the dining table; lady spoon had returned home. When we all finished I sent the three to continue their work around the manner as I announced that dinner was ready. “For the first course you will be having julienne soup. For the second course, there will be broiled salmon, red mullet, and lobster rissoles” bronze announced as I placed each dish in front of each person.

     “And what for the final course?” diamond tiara asked. “Roast Ducks and charlotte Russe” bronze answered as he handed me the third course. The family seemed to be pleased. After dinner the riches decided to retire. I stayed in the dining room and cleaned the table as bronze washed the kitchen.

     Once we finished, I bided the three good night and headed for my quarters. As I walked the halls I began to hear a faint wine; it was coming from lady tiara’s room. As I knocked on her door the wine dulled and miss tiara weakly asked me to come in. “Is something the matter, madam?” I asked closing the door behind me. “Yes you idiot! My father said that he was dying!” she yelled.

     I was taken aback by her sudden outburst “when did he say that?” I asked. “I overheard you and him talking. *sniffle* is it true that you worked for my family for ten generations?” she said as I sat next to her and whipped the tears, with my handkerchief, from her face. “That is true” I said with a smile. “But you don’t look a day over twenty” she acknowledged. “Why thank you, lady tiara. That warmed my heart.” I praised causing her to blush.

    “Don’t be stupid! I didn’t mean it like that!” she said slightly embarrassed. I laughed and tucked her into bed. “Good night, lady diamond” I said while walking to the door. “Good night” she said as I closed her door. Continuing my walk down the hall, sugar heart and the others ran at me; in their night gowns no less.

     “Do you bare no shame?” I asked as they stopped. “Silver, come quick there something you need to see.” They each said with fear in their lungs. I followed them to where they wanted me; into the study. “Now what is it you want me to see?” I said somewhat flustered since I had been working before anyone else had woken up. “It’s out this ‘ere window. Sugar saw smoke rise from the forest and now its move closer” strong hoof explained.

     “With the speed its going, I doubt it is a fire” bronze said continuing to watch the smoke. “Were we expecting anyone?” sugar asked. “Now that you mention it, I did ‘ear the master talk on the phone with someone. He didn’t seem none pleased when ‘e finished” strong hoof said. My mind was puzzled by who was or what was going on out there. I noticed light moving along behind the trees.

     “Well whatever it is lets show it the filth rich hospitality” I said exiting the room. “What’s ‘e up to?” strong asked as they all watched me leave the manor. The forest was black and the wind was cold. “Come out now or I will be forced to make you” I shouted. The bushes rustled and a several dark male figures stepped out.

     “And what are you gone a do? Serve us to death?” one man said; the others began to laugh. “I’m warning you. This is your last chance to leave” they didn’t seem to care much “alright then” I said as I adjusted my gloves. “Get him boys!” they charged at me with weapons in hand. I stood and watched as they came closer. As one of the brutes swung his bat at my head, I jumped over their heads and landed behind them.

     “What the hell? How did he do that?” they asked. “You should have taken up my warning. Now I have no choice” I said pocketing my glasses. Fear struck their souls as my stair penetrated their nerves. “Wh- what are you waiting for. Kill him you morons!” they charged once more. “Right then” I muttered, charging them as well. They were taken aback by my speed.

     In a matter of seconds I was close enough for one of them to hit me; unfortunately for him I was too. Before he could land a hit with his pocket knife, I dodged and punched his sternum. His colleagues stopped and watched in terror as I continued to attack his chest. After a few more carefully landed punches, I began to break his ribs then advanced onto ripping his lungs out of his chest. The others were dumb founded and dropped their weapons.

     “What are you?” a ruffian asked as he hid behind his partners. “Sir, I am simply one hell of a butler” I ran to them and made what would be considered a bloody massacre. I put my glasses back on and headed to the manor. As I entered the building I unequipped my gloves and handed them to sugar. “That should be the end of that. And be sure to scrub the blood out.” I said going to check up on lady diamond.

     Entering her room I saw that she was sitting up and shaking. “Lady Tiara, go back to sleep. Everything is all…” I was interrupted by the cocking of a pistol. A bullet was shot into the back of my skull. Diamond jumped up from the bed and sat on her knees next to me. “No, please, no. don’t die you can’t die” she said as the shooter walked to her.

     Tears dripped to the floor as she backed into the coroner. “*scuff* don’t worry, madam, I will deal with this marauder swiftly so you may return to your slumber” I stated. “But- but I shot you. You should be dead!” the man shouted as miss tiara stared with a “blown away” face. “Yes, well you can’t kill what can’t be killed” I said coughing up the bullet. “I believe that this belongs to you” I flicked the used bullet at the man’s face and killed him on the spot.

     As I stepped over the dead man I reached down to miss diamond and brought her out to the hall. Calling out to bronze, I gave miss tiara to him and instructed them to find the others and leave the building. As they ran I quickly and quietly, for there may be more intruders, moved to the master’s bedroom. “Master! Madam! We must leave at once! We have intruders! Master?” as I looked more closely I saw two bodies lying in blood. “Silver…” master rich muttered.

     “Master, save your energy, please” I begged as I kneeled down to him. “Silver, I’m not going to make it” he said with a cough. “Don’t talk like that” I said. “I want you to do something for me” I leaned closer to hear him. “I order you to make the contract between you and my daughter” I said with his last breath.

     “As you wish master” I stood up and walked outside to the others. “Silver are you all right? Where’s the master and madam?” they asked. I just kept on walking and told them “come we must be going” strong hoof grabbed my shoulder. “What about the master and madam?” I looked at him in the eyes and he then knew to drop the discussion. “Were heading to town” I stated.