The Lightning Bringer

The burbling water was difficult to see for many. Quite the crowd of curious ponies had gathered to watch the fountain be installed. More had shown up after that when the water began to come. As I had instructed, little plaques were installed informing ponies to help keep it clean for everyone to enjoy.

A mare wandered up out of the crowd, approaching Tight Fit. "Can I get some?" A bucket floated just to the side of her. "I was going to head to the river, but this is just as good?"

"Even better," assured Tight with a proud grin. "It's got a filter on it to make sure there's nothing in there but the crispest, cleanest water. It's like the water nobles enjoy, but for everyone."

"For everyone," she repeated, sounding stunned at the idea. But she wasn't stopped, so she brought the bucket down and easily filled it with water. Floating over, she sniffed it lightly, and probably smelled water and the wood of her bucket. "It's lovely! Thank you!"

"Aw shucks. 'twere Mister Langerman's project. I'm just happy to play a part." That was when he waved at the strange mutant, I mean me. Ponies weren't entirely sure in their reaction, but the clops came, and soon others approached to get their share.

Easy appeared from the crowd just as Tight was coming towards me, causing a three-way meeting. "Here we are." A roll of parchment emerged from her into view. "A list of 'kind' contributors in order of donation. I'll tell you, Boss, I thought you were giving me a rough assignment, but this hasn't turned out bad at all."

I didn't reach for the list, letting Tight Fit lay claim. "Have they been trying to butter you up?"

"That's a new saying? They want me to be impressed, so they go out of their way for me." She licked over her lips. "Got to taste drinks and try fancy foods I never did before. I never made time for opera, but there I was, sitting with some fancy pony watching them sing."

About that. "You don't count that, I hope?"

"What? No." She shook her head quickly. "They can be nice all they want, but the bits are what I ordered by, not the gifts on the side." An ornate monocle floated into view and perched on her face over one of her eyes. "Even if I do like some of the gifts. You can't pay for this work with a monocle anyway."

"You're doing great." I looked towards Tight. "And you, stallion of the hour." He beamed. "You're bringing this the last mile, and it's looking great." I could see the crowd moving up, about four lines created, orderly queues where people would get some water and move aside for the next. Spirits seemed high. "Ah, Easy?"

"Yeah, Boss?"

"How are we looking on incoming and outgoing pipes?"

She slapped her hooves together with a loud clop. "The dogs are doin' great! Almost done." She pointed to the fountain. "That one's doing the whole trip, and it makes a nice waterfall out of the city. I saw it, looks great."

Another pony nearby perked their ears. "There's a new waterfall?" Just like that, word spread rapidly. The wastewater would become another sight to see. I couldn't help but imagine that would fade as the water darkened with the various filth that a city could produce. Or maybe it wouldn't? It was a magical world. That wasn't high on my list of things to worry about.

"Sir." Tight inclined his head, moving past me. I followed him, Easy trailing along with. "I've been studyin' your magic book." It floated into view and approached my hand. I took it back easily. "I think I have a version worked out. Somethin' a pony could hop onto, sit down, and do what they have to do, nice and clean."

A step forward, a good step forward, from a lot of other options. "Great. Instead of lunging ahead and installing that in a random pony's house, why don't we make it a show for our benefactors?" I pointed up at the castle we were living in. "I'll get permission for you to have run of one of the bathing rooms and you can install it in there for them to see and gawk at."

Tight blinked with obvious surprise. "You want me to put the indoor outhouse next to where you bathe? I thought you were trying to make it cleaner." He rubbed the side of his head with the flat of a hoof. "How does that make sense?"

I had defaulted to how I saw them back in the human world. "It doesn't have to be there. A little private room's fine. I'll see if we can't get some space for one of those, along with a sink to wash yourself afterwards."

"No stinky hooves," suddenly blurted Easy. "Sounds swanky." She glanced over to the fountain where the crowd was beginning to peter off. "Looks like most ponies got their water. A success I'd say." Suddenly she hopped in place, looking back to us. "Hey, I get it!"

Tight smiled gently at his daughter. "What do you get?"

"Why you'd put them together." She sat and brought up her hooves to put them together. "All those pipes. You don't want to have to bring them all through a house, especially a small one. So you have one room, the water room! That's where all the water is, so you have your indoor outhouse and your bath and your sink all in one place. Ha, good thinking."

I... hadn't even put that together myself and my little manager had put the pieces together without any prompting from me. I allowed a laugh free. "That's exactly the idea. For the castle, not a big deal. They have a lot of room. For individual pony houses..."

"I see..." Tight turned to look at the closest dwelling. "That could be a problem, tryin' to get pipes all over, but if they all go to one place... The water room. Very good. I understand now." He clopped a hoof on the ground and started forward. "I have plans to mildly work on. Tell me when I get to--"

The paper that floated with him changed in color as Easy grabbed it in her magic. "Your work is right here," she reminded. "Start from the top."

"Oh! Yes, of course." He tucked the paper away. "Silly me. Thank you." And off he went in a slightly different direction.

"So, how am I doing?" She was beaming up at me, her tail swaying back and forth. "Best manager you ever had, right?"

Only manager I ever had, but I let that part slide. "You are doing an exceptionally great job. Your father will work on round one, but don't let up. Make it clear you're working on round two, so if they want to be on the top of that list..."

"They should contribute," she finished with a firm nod. "And I get to enjoy the high life a little longer. The most generous ponies already gave it up, so I'll have to go for new angles, or hope other ponies getting it inspires them to not want to be left behind." She raised a hoof. "Now, I love my father, don't get me wrong, but since we have a little more money, maybe we should get another pipe pony or two? Waiting on dad to pipe the entire town may be a long time."

"An excellent point." With the donations coming in, my budget had expanded, and we had a process... "Would your father get upset teaching others how to do as he's done so far, assuming they know how to work with pipes?"

"He'll complain a lot." Her shoulders lifted. "But he'll also get over it if it's his job. So, my suggestion--"

"--Take a break from schmoozing to recruit some talent," I cut in. I couldn't have her coming up with all the ideas. "Let's speed this process along, but no cutting corners. Quality craftsponies."

"Only the best," she agreed before she vanished without even a goodbye, just some sparkles that faded quickly.

She enjoyed her teleporting way too much. I had other business.

"You stole it!" I was being suddenly pushed against a castle wall by a realy irate looking, scraggly-maned, stallion. "You took it from me!"

"What'd I take?" Despite being pressed, I actually felt more sorry for the stallion than angry. He looked like he was really worn down. "Want to talk about it?"

"There is nothing to discuss." He shoved, but there was nowhere to go, so it was more like he was giving the most aggressive nuzzles possible. It was almost adorable. "I was gonna make that fountain! Me!"

Wait... "You're a plumber then?"

"What's that?" The nuzzle-attack faded. "I make things, with water." He waved a hoof wildly, ignoring the looks of ponies passing by at the fuming he was doing. "I was gonna make a fountain, for all th' ponies! It was gonna be... so good." He sank then, tears streaming down his face.

Had this been a pony that would have done it, had I not come along and changed things? Well, damn. "Hey, calm down. You're exactly the kind of pony I was about to start looking for."

He looked up at that, ears askew in different directions. "You were? What for? To laugh at how you did it first?"

Let me restate; ponies are adorable. Sad ponies were adorable in all the wrong ways. I sank to my altered knees and gently brushed away some of the tears on his soggy face. "Not that. We have so much more work to do, and we need talented water workers. You know how to pipe?"

"Know how?" He suddenly puffed his chest out, striking a proud pose despite his teary state. "It's what I do! The rich ponies don't understand the value in movin' water instead of making it with magic." He sat and brought up his hooves to wiggle them as if to emulate magic auras. "Don't get me wrong, love mah magic." He pointed up at his horn.

"I was just setting up the way for you. There's so much work to do, and you sound like somepony that could do it."

"Somepony?" His tongue ran over his lips. "Huh, funny... I like it. Yeah, I'm somepony that can do it! I love fountains. The one you made, I can do better."

Could he? "We have water coming into and leaving the city now. If you work with me, you can attach a new fountain to that, get all the water you need."

"You're lyin'!" He thumped me right on the chest with the flat of a hoof. Horses have hard hooves, ponies included. "The dogs are digging the tunnels, and ponies set the pipes. You ain't none of those."

"Who do you think told them to do it, and has permission from the council to have it done in the first place?" I stood up, partially to avoid being chest-thumped again. "Where are you staying? I'll send my manager over to speak with you. If she likes what she sees, we have so much work for you. Fountains are just the start."

My aggressive recruiting seemed to be defusing his anger, fidgeting instead. "Oh well... in the castle here... I was gonna go in front of the council to... argue mah case." He reached up behind his head, rubbing his scraggly mane. "But... if yer bein' honest, maybe I don't need that... Just tell them to look for Pipe Dream. I won't be far." And he turned away before looking back at me. "Tell me and be honest. You aren't playing a joke on a stallion, are you?"

"Is this pony bothering you?" A guard had arrived, looking at Pipe with obvious disdain. "I can have him removed at your word."

"No! No..." Having my talent tossed on the street would be counterproductive. "I think he'll be with me shortly."