A Rainy Day
Manehattan, the city of opportunities. Different from the majority of Equestria, it was a place of luxury, of huge buildings and important ponies. It was a city who captivated it's population, made them aspire for great things. A true gem in the face of Equestria.
However, that luxury was not free: there was a poorer part, much less know segregated from the city. There down on their luck stallions and mares struggled to survive, living in old buildings and working on the worst conditions. And from those who were poor, there was also the others who lived in an even worse way: the miserably, those who couldn't get enough even to feed themselves. One of them was a mare named Sweety.
This mare lived a bit near the edge of Manehattan, her house being a simple cardboard box. When it rained, she would pray that it wouldn't melt, not until it stopped and she could get another one. Her name was actually a nickname: ponies gave it to her as she took the oldest profession as her method of survival. She didn't remember what her true name was.
A dark yellow coloring with brown mane, alongside blue eyes helped her a lot on that department. She kept a sign near her home, offering her services. Other times she would walk through the street, carrying a sign over her neck to attract more clients. Still, even doing those things, she didn't seem to be able to make enough money, a quantity that could help take her out of this life.
Born in a poor family and then losing them when she was young, since little she constantly struggled to keep herself alive. Her blank flank proved it: she never had the chance to discover what was her true talent. She, who was now a full grown mare, was still locked in this situation... and would probably stay until she died.
She was now sitting inside her home, sighing. It was raining slightly, no chance of a client to appear. Feeling cold, her mind would constantly bring questions, such as what would happen to her when her look ended? How would she sustain herself? She could only frown, not seeing a way to escape from such a fate.
Suddenly, her thoughts were stopped when she heard steps coming. She looked, seeing in the middle of the rain two figures coming: one of them was a stallion wearing a tuxedo and a top hat, the other was a mare in a black dress. The mare was holding an umbrella over both of their heads.
The stallion approached, staring at the mare. She looked at him, noticing his gray colored coat and bright silver mane. His eyes also carried a deep silver color. He stood for right on front of her, his eyes analyzing the mare and the sign near her home.
"So, twenty bits will get me anything?", asked the stallion curiously.
"Yes sir.", the poor mare on the cardboard house answered. She was a bit uncomfortable: never a stallion approached her accompanied. Was that mare his wife or girlfriend?
"You know, anything is a lot. You have no idea how much some ponies would pay for anything. I mean, look at my watch: it's made from gold and I paid four hundred bits for it.", the stallion said, taking a golden pocket watch and showing to her. Putting it back, he then added: "You, however, is selling anything for just twenty bits! If something I can wield on my pocket is still only a thing, imagine how much more is worth anything?"
"Sir?", the mare asked confused. The stallion was talking pretty fast, she was not understanding the point that he was making. She did notice however that he had money, especially to use such a watch. Was he one of those eccentric rich ponies she heard about?
"However I am a business stallion miss. I never lose the chance to do business. If you want to sell me your 'anything' so cheap, I will gladly accept it.", the stallion answered with a smile.
"Mister, I fear you aren't understanding... that anything means anything in my power.", the mare tried to explain herself. It was like that stallion really thought that anything meant something material, like an object.
"Oh, I got it pretty well. Still, how many things are there, included in anything? For example, I know a stallion who knows how to repair fences. He asks for fifty bits a hour, can you believe?! Then there is this mare who knows grammar, she asks for forty bits just to take a look at my speeches! And then was my gardener, who asked for thirty bits a hour just to water some plants. Anything truly means is a lot!", the stallion said excited.
"No, sir. I mean anything on my body.", the mare tried again.
"That is even sillier! I mean, you know how much blood costs? Or a liver, for example? Why, medics love stealing my hard earned bits with their overinflated medicines! Do you have any idea how much a body is worth?", the stallion shouted, like being amazed at her statement. "I tell you, if slaves were legal, I would be angry if I was sold for less than a thousand bits."
"Sir?", she could only say. Her mind could only imagine from where he came from.
"You know, you won't get far with those cheap prices. But as I told you before, I am not one to dismiss good opportunities. That is the basis of a good business stallion after all. Tell me, what you know to do?", the stallion smiled.
"Well, I...", she blushed. She did explain her talents many times, but not to a couple.
Before she could answer, however, the stallion interrupted her: "Oh please. Why would I want that? Pleasures are just pleasures, there is no profit in pleasure. If I wanted any of those things, I could just cross the street on my cart: mares would come flocking at me because of it's sheer magnificence."
The mare was taken back by this statement: every pony who even sought her services was only after one thing. What could he really want then?
"Tell me, do you know how to garden?", he said out of nowhere.
"To tell the truth...", the mare started to answer...
"Ah, who cares?! You can learn. You seem to be like a good learner. You will get it in no time.", the stallion suddenly exclaimed, interrupting her. "Can you start tomorrow? Yes or no, answer quickly!"
"Err... yes?", she said. What did she get into?
"Cool. It's twenty bits for anything... and I want your anything everyday. That is twenty bits a day. Is that enough for you?", the stallion asked, picking a pouch full of bits.
"Sir, that sounds...", she was almost going to say great. Twenty bits a day would at least ensure a constant meal everyday. It was a dream coming true!
"Fine, I'm sorry for trying to rip you off. Twenty bits per hour, then. And I will need you a couple of hours everyday.", he quickly corrected himself, then offering a hoof shake: "So, what do you say? I think it's fair now!"
"I... I have no words." Her eyes were now shining, like a miracle had come true. Feeling happy for the first time in many years, she jumped out of her cardboard, happily shaking his hoof: "I accept sir, I do!"
"Great!", the stallion added, shaking back. He then pointed to her home: "Ah yes, you better get out of that cardboard house. I am a stallion of luxury and I want to see my workers on their best condition."
"Sir?", she asked confused.
"Here.", he gave her the entire bag of bits. "Consider it an advance for while you are working for me. Of course I will deduce it from your monthly salary, but don't worry: I will do so in very tiny parcels."
"I...", she couldn't take it anymore. She just put her hoof on her face, starting to cry.
"There, there. Here is where I live:", he consoled her, then giving a business card. He then smiled, adding: "I want you tomorrow pretty early, alright?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you!", she ecstatic answered. "Thank you a lot!"
"Ah, alright. This is getting too sappy for me.", the stallion released. He then put his hoof on the rich mare neck, adding: "Until later."
The mare just nodded, watching the couple turning back and going away. Curious, she opened the bag: it was filled with bits. It was probably the greatest amount of money she ever carried. She happily picked it with her mouth and moved away from the cardboard. She was determined: she was going to find a hot meal to eat and then find a suitable home to live.
A bit far from there, the grey stallion and his friend were still walking through the rain. It was possible to see that the stallion's cutie-mark was a silver wrench, his friend being a golden necklace. The mare's cutie-mark fell into contrast with her body, which was yellow with a orange tail.
The mare seemed to be in anxiety: she stood besides the entire previous conversation, only listening to it. Now that she was pretty far from the poor mare, she finally felt free enough to ask: "Darling, why did you do that?"
"What do you mean, sweetie?", asked the grey stallion smiling.
"You could have hired a professional gardener for this same price.", she contested. "Why waste money like this?"
"Ah, you don't understand. There is something named loyalty.", the stallion explained. "Some ponies spit on the hoof of those who feed them, but others will follow them until the end. I feel that is a feeling that is good to be cultivated."
"So, your entire reasoning was to make she indebted to you?", she pushed again, not feeling satisfied with his answer.
"No, that was actually a bonus. If I have the chance to help a homeless mare, why shouldn't I do it?", the stallion continued, seemingly getting emotional. "Consider it paying the price, because while life was kind for me it wasn't for others. It's always good to see things like that, because it reminds us of our roots."
"Our roots?", she asked. She then had a moment of clarity: "Ah sir, now I know what this is about. You are predicable."
"I was on the other side too, you know? But I managed to get to the top, through my own work and will. Not everypony can do that. And I don't blame those who cannot.", the stallion said proudly, his mind remembering him of many things.
"*sigh* You will go bankrupt if you try to help everypony.", she sighed. "That was wasted money, I'm afraid."
"True, I cannot help everypony. And maybe I have just throw money into the air, but who can really know? Let's give her a chance, I say. If it doesn't work out... then consider this money as charity.", he finished with a smile.
The rich duo then continued with their trip, crossing the street as the rain finally stopped...
