The Forsaken

Chapter 4: Introduction to Ponyville

Anon

Midnight and I walked from his estate to Ponyville. It was a longer walk than I expected but the weather was nice, and the conversation was pleasant. I was listening to him speak.

“Now. Normally I would use magic to teleport us to Ponyville. And I would gladly use magic to teleport you to work, if the spa hires you, however, there may be days that I can’t do that. If or when that happens, you need to understand that this is the walk you will be making. While being late can happen from time to time, it’s important to avoid making it a habit. The spa itself is often overbooked, so being even 15 minutes late could throw off their entire schedule.”

I nodded. “That’s not much different from my world. I know that you are vouching for me, and I won’t ruin your name, I promise.”

Midnight smiled. “I’m afraid that I don’t have much of a name to ruin.”

I frowned at his light-heartedness. “But… you’re a lord, right?”

He shrugged. “Most of the locals treat my title as ceremonial, given that I defer the process of tax collection and other minor ‘lordly’ duties to the mayor’s office. The mayor will ask me for my input for events that I’m expected to attend and whatnot, but I have been rather hoof-off when it comes to day to day political anything. I prefer to live in the shadows where I was forsaken to be. And when I am seen, I’m usually guilty of a joke or prank that causes ponies to roll their eyes.”

I pursed my lips in a pout. “But… why would you do such a thing on purpose?”

His face seemed passive. “Do you want a real answer to that?”

I nodded. “You haven’t lied to me yet, so far as I can tell. Don’t start now. I mean… I am your marefriend, and the basis of all lasting relationships… is trust.”

Midnight stopped walking and I stopped with him. He stared into my eyes; all playfulness gone.

“I am stuck in how I was trained. Guard training. Knight training. Spy training. Assassin training. Defer. Deflect. Redirect. By not ‘taking my title seriously’, ponies can assume that I’m lazy or incompetent or both. By playing pranks and cracking jokes, ponies can assume that I’m a harmless fool. If they underestimate me… I already have the upper hoof if I have to fight them. Because… in all honestly, my dear, I am harmless… until I’m not.”

They resumed walking but the wind felt cold on the otherwise warm morning. The silence was punctuated with the crisp hoof steps of Midnight alongside her own softer footsteps.

The facts she had been presented with seemed to click into place and she steeled her resolve to ask another hard question that she needed an answer to.

“Do you think you might hurt me by accident? Is that why… you want to take everything slow? See how this all this will work?”

He snorted. “My stallionhood will rip you in half. I’m going to have to be extra gentle with you if we ever get that far… after all… I am hung like a horse.”

I was shocked at his words but laughed the loudest I think that I ever have. He had said it so seriously that it made everything else that much funnier to me. Once my tears had dried, I stole a glance at him and was happy to see him smiling.

We crested a hill, and the town came into view. Ponyville was a quaint little village but was busy for a small town. As we entered the town proper, I noticed that ponies were staring at me. It was a wonder that they didn’t flee into their homes. As if reading my mind, Midnight spoke.

“They won’t flee in terror because you are walking with a pony. I can’t promise that your first few trips into town unescorted will be as uneventful until ponies get used to you being here.”

I giggled. “I suppose strangers are rare here.”

Midnight nodded. “Ponies are generally wary of outsiders because outsiders tend to cause trouble. Of course… I cause trouble… so being seen with me might not help you much.”

I allowed my laughter at his statement to be heard. The ponies seemed to relax a little more at hearing a carefree laugh escape me while I whispered into Midnight’s ear.

“Maybe we can help each other in more ways than we suspected. I will help improve how these ponies see you so that you will no longer be forsaken in my company.”

Midnight’s ears flattened. “I’m afraid that it will not be as easy as that… although… I’m happy that you are willing to try.”

I nodded. “It’s my pleasure to try. So… tell me about the town?”

He pointed a hoof at a big brown and pink building shaped like a gingerbread house with a cupcake on top. “That’s Sugar Cube Corner. The Cake family owns it… with the towns biggest party pony, Pinkie Pie, as the sole employee other than the actual owners. I dare say that they have the best sweets in all of Equestria, other than the Apple Family’s Sweet Apple Acres ‘apple based’ sweets with their secret family recipes and maybe Doughnut Joe’s doughnut shop in Canterlot.”

He pointed across the courtyard. “That is the Carousel Boutique, owned by Rarity. She makes the best dresses this side of Canterlot and is making a big push to becoming the best dress maker in all of Equestria. The dresses aren’t cheap but I’m hoping to get all of your custom-made clothing from her. We clearly aren’t going to find you anything that fits you that isn’t custom made.”

He pointed again across the street to a big tree. “That is the Golden Oaks Library. The old full-time librarian retired a few years ago and was never replaced. Volunteers work together to run the library when there’s time but it’s a boring job and few ponies want to volunteer. As a result, the library is only open about 3 days a week right now. I’ll have to ask the mayor about any candidates for a full-time librarian.”

As we continued to walk the town, he pointed out City Hall, the School, the various other shops and restaurants and we finally made our way to the Ponyville Day Spa. I realized belatedly that we took the long way around the town so he could show me the whole town before arriving at our destination.

The Ponyville Day Spa was one of the larger buildings in the town, which was odd to me. A frazzled pony stood outside, looking like she was trying to calm herself.

Midnight cleared his throat. “Good morning, Aloe Blossom. Hard day?”

She looked up at us and nodded with a sigh. “Saturdays are always hard. We had four ponies show up as walk-ins before we were even officially open, hoping to be squeezed into between the ponies that had actually bothered to make an appointment. That wouldn’t normally be a problem but one of my staff called out sick. The feather flu is always bad in early summer… I’m grateful that only pegasi can catch it. You know that I would normally never turn down a chance to let you enjoy a spa day since you only occasionally allow yourself one, especially since you seem to be entertaining a guest, but I simply cannot work you in today. My hooves are full.”

Midnight frowned, appeared to be a little lost in thought, but finally nodded and replied with his voice poised in a tone that suggested that he was trying to solve a difficult problem.

“I understand. If you recall… I prefer my spa days to take place on a Tuesday when the customer traffic is lighter. Of course, my favorite mane stylist is normally off on Tuesdays… such a conundrum…”

Anon stifled a giggle and tried to control herself. Okay… I think I can see what he meant by redirect. I think it’s kinda cute watching him play a fool… but only because I know it’s fake and why it’s needed. I can see how other ponies might not think much of him. He’s acting like a typical fairy tale noble with book smarts but no common sense. Or a meat head ex-soldier that has neither book smarts or common sense.

Midnight shook his head and continued. “I was actually hoping to introduce you to my new friend, Anon. She is a mane stylist and needs a job. She freely admits that she doesn’t have any experience with working on ponies, but I was hoping that you would give her a chance anyways?”

Aloe perked up and looked at me. “I would be glad to offer you a job. We provide all the tools, oils, and lotions plus a room to work in. You will work on clients in which you have the skills to serve, and you’ll earn 40% of the price we charge the customers plus 100% of your own tips in a commission-based pay scale. When we have no clients that you have the skills to serve alone, you will train with other ponies that can teach you the skills that you are lacking. I hope that you will accept the offer.”

I nodded. “That is fair, and I look forward to learning what I don’t already know. When can I start?”

Aloe smiled. “You can start right now if you want to. I have ponies that you can serve.”

I looked at Midnight. “Is that okay?”

Midnight nodded back at me. “I have to go to the bank to review some overdue accounts and I have separate business to attend to at Sweet Apple Acres. I have no problem with you starting your work right now. I will come back when my other errands are done if that’s okay with you.”

I gave Midnight a hug and then followed Aloe into the spa.

Midnight

I teleported myself into my office at the bank. It took about an hour to review the end of the week reports of payments made and payments missed. Near the bottom of the list was the report I had been both looking for and expected.

Sweet Apple Acres… Payment missed.

I sighed and wrapped up my business in the office only to teleport myself to Barnyard Bargains. I walked inside the store and found Filthy Rich looking at empty shelves in the consignment area. Empty shelves meant no profit. No profit meant a downgrade in his social status. A quick glance around the store showed a lot of ‘new’ summer merchandise, including a huge brand-new plow, meant to help with the summer planting season. I looked at the plow with interest.

Super-Plow 5000… Big Mac could pull that plow with ease and it would make it twice as easy for him to plant the summer crop. A missed payment must mean that they are having more than their fair share of problems on the farm. Again. I owe it to their parents to make this right.

Filthy Rich noticed me browsing in the store and walked over to greet me. “Lord Midnight. It’s a pleasure to see you. What can I do for you today?”

I smiled at him. “I have a shipment of goods to place on consignment. I was worried that you wouldn’t have space for it, but it appears that my fears were unnecessary.”

Filthy winced. “Yes… I could use some more goods to sell. Are we going to use our standard deal?”

I shook my head. “I want that plow. Can you evaluate the value of my goods and see if you can justify a straight trade?”

Filthy nodded. “Show me what you have…”

30 minutes later, all the goods that had been recovered from the griffons were on the shelves and priced for sale and the plow was in Midnight’s magical storage portal. Filthy was smiling for the first time that day.

“If I’m being honest, you are losing money on this trade. That plow is expensive but your cut from the goods that you gave me was worth more. Why make a losing trade on purpose?”

I nodded at him knowingly. “It’s in my best interest to keep you profitable. I can afford to take a few losses on these goods in order to keep our relationship healthy. I don’t ask for favors often. I expect you to be reasonable when or if I do.”

Filthy nodded, understanding my meaning. With that, I left the store and headed for my next errand.

Sweet. Apple. Acres.