"Get out of the way!", a pony shouts angrily.
I barely manage to dive out of the way of the mașila, getting me and my cloak drenched with stale water when it passes in a puddle. Merciful Sun, I hate those newfangled carriage. Isn't a pony-drawn carriage better? A lot less dangerous, at the very least, and a lot less noisy as well. Though to be fair, the problem isn't the vehicle, it's the driver. Always speeding about and short on time, the workers, always pushed further by the damned magnates.
I look over the street I'm in, everywhere the signs of the oppression of the highborn presents and clear, with houses and shops pushed against each others, with barely enough space to actually live in them, "sewers" that line the road, foul smells and dark alleys that no one want to acknowledge the existence of. And there's the Smoke, produced by the factories that are always close to the worker's district, making sure to make them as miserable as possible.
If only the workers could get their fair share of the rewards...
*sigh*
These streets used to be filled with life, with countless stalls selling fresh products and hoofmade crafts. Nowadays, nothing remains, everyone forced to work in the factories or starve to death. Eh, good choice of word, "forced", considering there recently was a crackdown on the burgeoning class of intellectuals amongst the Earth Ponies. We can't have the plebes thinking on their own, now can we? To think I was one of them, that my father sacrificed everything so I could have the semblance of an education...
Now? Now, I'm a street worker. I was "blessed" with what one would call the "Dark, Tall and Handsome" look, only enhanced by my scar and my shredded ear, as well as my dark green eyes that would put any emeralds to shame. Though considering I've got to hide it all from adventurous noblemares, and sometime even noblestallions... Not that much of a blessing. I'd rather have been born with the brawn necessary to work in one of the few artisanal workshops that remain profitable even now.
The absolute worse aspect of this situation? When the intellectual circles still existed, I met engineers and other thinkers that showed the potential of all those advances, if they were more than a vanity project of the nobility and others of their ilk. Varania could become a paradise for everypony, with Earth Ponies being able to be more than just workers. After all, your brain doesn't care if you've got a horn or wings.
I finally arrive to the building where I rent a room. It's dilapidated and infested with rats and other pests, but it's still one of the best lodging to be found. Comparatively. I enter the lobby, with the mare manning the reception desk apathetically waving a hoof to greet me. I nod in response and head up the stairs, toward my room. The halls are small, leading to the impossibility of passing by someone. I enter my room, my home, sweet home, which is mostly just a bed, a desk and a closet. Why would somepony like me need anything more?
My bed sings to me songs of rest and unthinking peace, but unfortunately, I've got to "work" tonight, said night beginning in a hour. Sun and Moon, why is our nation in such dire straits?
"Good job tonight, Onix, you really wooed them hard!"
I bristle at the comment.
"You know I don't do it for that, Roză."
The brothel's matron waves her hoof dismissively.
"I know, I know, which is a testament to your skills that they'd still fall for it. Or it's because they're stupid. Who knows?", she says with a sardonic smile.
"I know, and I can assure you it is not my skills that are beyond the average", I respond evenly.
She snorts and give a small laugh.
"If you say so, Stony McIce. Here", she says, handing me a lună, "as I said, good work. I know it's not easy for you."
"A lună? Isn't that way above my usual pay?"
"It is, though it will probably become your new usual pay if you keep bringing in so many customers. If you were willing to entertain stallions..."
"I will not-", I begin to say, shutting my mouth as I think it over. Do I really have the option of being choosy here? "...I'll think about it, Roză."
She pats my shoulder.
"I know you hate it, but what else undesirable like us can do? Have a good night, Onix."
"Likewise, Roză."
Shit, there's really nothing to do, is there? I should have stayed in my bed to sleep some more. The days are always boring when your livelihood happens at night, so now I'm left to wander the streets of the capital until I have to go back to the brothel.
I wonder what the streets used to look like? I'm pretty sure my father told me there used to be colours and life, but well, I think I should take that with a grain of salt. Nostalgia is a powerful force, after all.
Should I accept Roză's offer? My nights are already pretty terrible as it is, though my days aren't much better, so if I could get a few silvers more...
"Mister! Hey, mister!", a voice shouts.
I turn to the source and I see...
A colt?
"Yes? What is it?", I ask him.
He skids to a halt in front of me, panting.
"Somepony payed me to tell everyone to go to the Court, said it was going to be histrionic!", in an over-excited tone of voice.
"Historic?", I ask, slightly confused.
"Yeah, whatever. Got to go!", he shouts, scampering away.
The Court? What the hell is going on? I take off at galloping speed, afraid of what this could mean if the plebeians were asked to assemble in front of the Senate's building. My run is made harder by those who are also congregating to the Court, as few of them seem as panicked as me.
I finally arrive at the Senatorial Plaza, though I'm hardly the first to be there. Hundreds of Earth Ponies and Pegasi are gathered here, and they all seem confused and anxious. Whatever is supposed to happen, it has yet to begin.
"My brothers and sister, hear me!", a voice, clearly magically enhanced, declares.
Seems I arrived just in the nick of time, though...Isn't that voice familiar?
"I gathered you here today because our hour is at hoof! A way to make our society function without magic has been found!"
The crowd gasp and whisper, and to be honest I'm not much better. What the hell are they talking about? Does it have anything to do with...
"The Unicorns' rule is based on the claim that we would be nothing without them, but this has been found to be patently false! We are here today to ask the Senate to give us our rightful place in Varania! To ask them to give us our freedom! Pegasi, no longer do you have to be their bloody swords! Earth Ponies, no longer do you have to be their long-suffering shovel and hammer! Unicorns, no longer do you have to be heartless tyrants! Together, for a better, newer and glorious Varania!"
The crowd seems exultant and frantic. Weird, since I also somewhat feel like that... Magic? I hope not, though I can't really do anything right now, not without looking like a Unicorn thrall. They march forward, the voice telling them to storm the building and demand their rights be given to them. I stay back, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.
Soon, the whole crowd is inside, leaving the plaza empty. This isn't going to end well, I know it.
A burst of flame shoot out of the doors of the Court, accompanied by the agonized screams of the unfortunate fools who thought they could take on the highest of the Unicorns, just like that. More screams, those of fear, and the crowd come back out galloping, stampeding and mercilessly crushing under their hooves anypony unfortunate enough to have tripped.
If I get my hooves on the monsters who enchanted them...! Whatever, let's get out of here before the Guard shows up!
Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck!
A scream, that of a mare, followed by that of a foal.
I knew it wouldn't end well! If I ever meet those plotholes who started all this, I'll fuckin' kill them!
The workers' district is on fire, the Guard purging any and all element susceptible of trying to rise up against the Crown. Fuck them too! May the Sun burn and scorch their very souls!
Running, trying to get away, foolish! How can you get away from the Pegasus guards and the Unicorn knights?!
A scream, that of a foal, again. But it's near...
I turn the corner, looking inside an alley, and I see a armoured figure looming over a little colt. Shit! What do I do? I could leave, but... NO! His life is more important! He's got so much to live for! I won't let them take everything away!
Look, look, what can you use? There! A brick! Take it, run toward the jackass, use the momentum to run on your hindlegs, bring down the brick, and...
*CRACK!!!*
The figure goes limp, the back of their head caved-in and bleeding profusely. That's what you get for not wearing an helmet, you fuckin' wanker! Shit, is that a horn?! I just killed a noble! Fuck! No matter, think of the foal, panic later!
"Are you alright?", I ask him as reassuringly as I can. Which isn't much, if the colt's reaction is anything to go by.
"No, please, I-I won't, I don't...*sniff*...", he stutters, before beginning to bawls his eyes out.
I hug him, petting the back of his head, and I begin to whisper sweet nothings to try and soothe him. After a few moments, he stops crying.
"There we go... Do you know where your parents are?"
Wrong question, since he looks ready to bawl again.
"That's okay, we'll find them-"
"They're dead...", he whispers.
"Shit, sorry kid. Come on, let's get moving. I'm pretty sure they would have wanted you to live."
He nods weakly and stands up. We start running, though I don't run as fast as I could. My compassion is going to get me killed, damn it! If I die today, his parents better give me an hero's welcome in the afterlife!
Where can we go? Roză! She probably knows a way to get out of the city! I lead the colt to the brothel, diving in alleys from time to time, to hide from the guards. After what seems to be hours, if not days, we finally reach our destination. I barrel through the door, looking around to try and find-KNIFE!-
I duck and then tackle my assailant after I pass under their guard.
"Stop it! I'm not a guard!", I say firmly to the squirming assailant.
"Onix?", a mare's voice asks.
"Roză?"
I get off from her, helping her up.
"Shit, Onix! I was sure they got you!", she says, with relief evident in her voice.
"I was sure they were going to! Please tell me you know a way out?"
She laughs.
"Of course I do! What kind of whore would I be without secret passages that I only show to a select few?"
Ow. I suddenly want to bang my head on a wall. Repeatedly.
"Seriously? That's the best you've got?"
She pouts.
"Well, sugar, we're not in the best of situation, are we?"
"Fair enough. Come on, let's go!"
"Wait a sec, who's that behind you?", she asks, looking at the frightened colt.
"A colt I found. Orphan."
"Shit", she says frowning. She puts on a smile and turn to the colt. "C'mon, darlin', let's get ya out of here!", she says with her affected accent.
She leads us to the basement, where she reveals a tunnel, hidden by a false wall. We go in, and after she closes it she cuts the ropes with her dagger. At least it won't be easy to follow us.
"Where's the rest of your workers?"
"I told them to go ahead, I was waiting for the last few ones to come here."
"Thank you, Roză", I say, smiling.
She snorts.
"Thank me when we get out of this mess, pretty boy."
"Hey, mister Onix?", the colt asks.
"Hmm?"
"You don't look like the other grown-up, you don't speak like them, why's that?"
I raise an eyebrow at him. The foal is really perceptive, he would have made a good Thinker...
"Well, I was fortunate enough to go to school, so it might be that."
"Really!? I don't know anyone who learned their letters and stuff!"
I laugh softly at his exuberance.
"Well, I learned a bit more than just that..."
"Yeah? What else did you learn?"
"Well-"
"Just tell him the whole story", Roză interject. "Beside, we've still got a ways to go, so it'll pass the time."
I glance at the colt's face and see his eyes, wide and hopeful.
"Fine, so it goes like this..."
Today is the day! Your father sacrificed a lifetime of work so you could get an education, and here I am! A cafe of intellectuals! I'll make you proud, Papa!
I walk to the entrance, the facade of the building all in elegant wood and stone work, as well as with planters filled with colourful flowers. As I near the door, a staff member notices me and comes to me.
"Master Onix?", he asks.
Well, I guess my dark coat and black mane are a rather glaring giveaway.
"Y-yes, that's me!"
Curses! Don't stutter, you fool!
"Please, follow me", he says, bowing and entering the cafe.
I do as asked, and he leads me to a room (a salon, it's a salon), and opens the door.
"Ah! Master Onix, I presume?", a yellow (golden?) stallion asks. "Come on in and sit down, we were eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
I do so, sitting down on a cushion next to the stallion.
"I am sorry for making you wait-"
"Nonsense!", a blue mare says. "You are just in time, nothing to be sorry about."
"Quite right! Now, now, Master Onix, let us begin! If you would, could you tell us what are your thoughts on the Kingdom? We get so little information from the point of view of those less fortunate than ourselves. How could we help if we do not know what the problem is? Though, if you could, do tell us, do you understand how the government works?"
Calm down, it's okay, they want you here, you're their equal. You are. Fuck!
"Master Onix?"
"Sorry! I just-"
"Bah, don't worry about it!", another stallion says. "It's okay to feel like you're going to wet yourself!"
I flush, embarrassed beyond words.
"Master Porumbel!", the yellow stallion protest. "So sorry, he never mince his words!"
"That's okay! I am nervous, so... anyway. The government of Varania is a monarchy, headed by the Emerald King. Under him are the nobles, hereditary landowner, who assemble at the Senate to legislate and second the King."
"Good, good. And how do you think the government should work?"
"I think that, the Senate, instead of being an assembly of the nobles, should be an assembly of elected officials, equally divided between the three tribes, assisted by a assembly of the people's representative who would apply the laws passed by the Senate."
"Elected? Interesting...you're a democrat, then?"
"Of course! Earth Ponies and Pegasi should have equal say in the government!"
"What about the King?", Master Porumbel asks.
"Well...If the three tribes are equals, then that means the King could marry anypony, thus his heir could be a Pegasus or even an Earth Pony, so I don't really have a problem with the Crown, as long as it's power have clear and defined limits."
"Limits? And what would those be?", the blue mare asks.
"The King should not be able to torment his subject. No punishment without justification. No declaration of war without the people's assent."
The assembled ponies hum and whisper their agreement.
"Quite!", Master Porumbel interject. "I'd even say..."
I did it! I managed to not totally embarrass myself in front of them! Thank the Merciful Sun!
"...embly should be able to overrule the monarch. After all, there is no kingdom without ponies to inhabit it!"
"But the plebeians are too dimwitted to rule, we still need the nobles to do so!", another stallion says.
"Is that so? Master Onix, what do you have to say about that?"
"Oh! I would say that the only reason the "plebeians" are dimwitted is because they are not properly educated. Otherwise, what would I be doing here?"
"Ah, well, you see-"
"A fair point, Master Onix. Clearly, Earth Ponies and Pegasus can be as learned and sophisticated than us unicorns!"
I blush, pleased that I managed to make such a point at my first meeting.
"They are waiting for you in the usual room, Master Onix."
Master Onix, not "random Earth Pony colt". I can finally be someone! One of the bright lights that will usher Varania in a new age! I enter, spotting Master Aurar, my sponsor, the golden stallion that welcomed me so warmly on my first day, months ago. I go to greet him.
"Good morrow, Master Aurar!"
"Master Onix! Good to see you! Come, come, we have a special guest today!"
I look around the room, and see that indeed we do! A pegasus? I wonder why he is here?
"Lady and gentlecolts, thank you for inviting me here today", the blue pegasus stallion says. "Ever since the Unicorns found a way to improve the quality of our steel production, thereby allowing the myriad inventions that came after, they have held that fact over our heads since then! But no longer! For my team and I found a way for pegasi to do the exact same than the enchanted foundries!"
Surprised whispers are heard from his captivated audience, and I can't blame them. The enchanted foundry has been the keystone of our technological advances for decades now. If a new, unicorn-free method has been found, this could revolutionize our society!
"As you all know, Pegasi are able to manipulate wind current. While such abilities are usually reserved for weather control, we have been able to use it to control the currents found inside the foundry. It requires special training and new kind of equipment, but it is possible!"
Question are asked, and I listen eagerly. Who would have thought such a thing was possible? It is but a few decades back that we had begun to mechanize our industries, allowing more freedom for the lower classes. If Unicorns were no longer necessary, even Earth Ponies could start a successful business!
The streets are strangely empty today, I wonder...
There have been rumours that the Court and the King were getting worried about the cafes, but why would they? We only want to help Varania!
I'm sure it's nothing. At the very least the cafe seems as full as always. As I approach, a staff member stands up, and stop me from entering.
"You cannot enter", he says, with visible reluctance.
"Why not?", I ask, thoroughly confused.
"Have you not heard the news?", he asks, incredulous. When I shake my head in confirmation, he says: "The King has declared the cafes to be against the proper and moral order of the Realm."
What?!
"Surely you are joking?"
"I'm afraid not, sir. I'll have to ask you to vacate the premise."
I leave, barely aware of his pained look. The cafes, closed down?
I go back to my dorm, hoping that this all just a misunderstanding. When I get there, I see a gaggle of guards going through the rooms, kicking out ponies and throwing out their belongings. I run to my room, hoping to save at least a few of my books.
"You can't do this!", I shout at the guards ransacking my room.
"Sure we can! Get the fuck out of here, mud pony," a guard says, pushing me out of the room, leading to me face-planting.
Shit. shitshitshit. What should I do? I've just been kicked out of my dorm. Fuck! Is my father's hard work going to go to waste, just like that? Fuck the King! May the Sun burn him to a crisp! We were only trying to make a better Varania, the bastard!
I can't even go see Master Aurar so I can ask him to stop them. Fool! Why didn't you try to find your own residence when you had the chance?! Stupid, stupid!
"Spare a copper for an unfortunate soul?", I ask a passerby.
The pony quicken their pace, not even looking my way.
Fuck! I was a student! A Thinker! I was a member of one of the most prestigious circle of intellectuals of Varania! And now I beg on the street. I could do so much more...
"Ooh, what do we have here?", a masculine voice asks.
I raise my head to stare in horror at a well-dressed unicorn, accompanied by two intimidating pegasus, clearly bodyguards, who is leering at me.
"Spare a copper, kind sir?"
"Oh, I can spare much more than that... Why don't you come to my house and I'll give it to you", he says in a syrupy tone.
Oh fuck this shit! I might not be an adult quite yet, but I know what you're getting at.
"I don't think-"
"Think? That's new! Come on! Let's get moving!"
"No."
He turns back, glaring daggers.
"Did you just say "no"? To me?!", he shrieks.
I get up, my head held up high. I might be a beggar, but I'm still a pony!
"You have no right to-"
One of his bodyguard punch me in the guts, making me fall on my side, retching.
"Right!? I have every right, you filthy mud pony! Grab him!"
I try to get up, I really do, but they grab and lift me effortlessly.
"There we go! Now-"
A dagger suddenly appear in his throat. The bodyguards drop me, but they get their own daggers, in the neck and the back of the head.
"Wha-"
A mare, an earth pony, suddenly appear in my field of view, kneeling in front of me.
"Don't worry, we've got you."
"Who...?"
"I'm Roză. And I've got a job and a home for you, if you want it?"
"Yes! Thank you, thank you so much!"
She helps me get up, looking me over.
"So, what do we call you?"
"I'm...call me Onix."
"Nice to meet'cha, Onix. Now, let's get a move on before the Guard gets us!"
"...and that's how I met Roză. She saved my life, in more ways than one."
"That was really sad!", the colts says.
I muss up his mane, smiling sadly.
"I know kid, I know. Life's like that sometimes."
"But that's not fair!"
"It isn't, but what can we do?"
"Stick a dagger in some noble shit's head?", Roză says with a smirk.
"Hmm, I guess there's that."
"Well, I'll do something!", the colt says. "I'll make Varania a better place! I'll make it so ponies like you can do their thing!"
"I hope you do, kid."
I don't expect you too, though.
