Equestria Copes

After Vesper left, there were several minutes of silence from the girls as Spike read, in full, the terms of their agreement. The binder itself was not so thick, only two centimetres, and contained within seven copies of the contract. It was less than fifteen minutes to go over everything.

"Uniforms?" gasped Rarity. "Oh, I do hope they are customisable. It would be just awful to wear the same thing every single day."

"That guy at the gate was wearing something different than Vesper," Rainbow pointed out. "Pretty sure there are different uniforms."

"That could be for a number of reasons," offered Twilight. "It could be for different ranks to determine who has the most authority, or it could be based on their exact job. Different tasks require different protections, after all, so if Vesper is doing clerical work, just cloth is fine, while, as a gate guard, one might want more armour."

"I definitely want something lighter," snorted Rainbow. "Something I can fly in."

"If they give us requirements for the uniforms, I'm sure I could find something to suit you," chuckled Rarity. "My mind is already aglow with a cacophony of designs."

"Some of which might be irrelevant," reminded Applejack. "Remember, we don't know what uniforms we're gonna hafta wear."

"I just hope it's something better than what they're wearing," added Pinkie. "White is just sooo boooring! I wonder if they have anything in pink?"

"I'd definitely have to agree with you that a splash of colour is required," agrees Rarity. "It's almost Labour Day, after all. Who would want to wear white after Labour Day? So tacky..."

"I don't see any further details," calls Spike, having been skimming through the wording. "Nothing about colour, shape, or cloth variety."

"Then it's settled," answers Rarity. "If I know anything about contract negotiation, it's that any amount of vague language in a contract that goes into dispute is automatically in favour of the recipient of the contract, and is counted against the presenter. No specifications on the uniform means we may decide the details."

"Unless there's a listed rule that says otherwise," reminded Twilight. "Don't forget, the first subsection of this section, page fourteen, section seven, subsection A, paragraph one, states that: "Any and all rules pertaining to the mandates of paradise shall be adhered to." It's possible, even probable, that we can't just wear "whatever we want.""

"Nevertheless, no such mandates have been presented," assured Rarity. "If they wish to enforce such rules, said rules must be presented and made clear. It is simply unfair to make us follow rules without telling us what rules we have to follow."

"What about profanity?" asked Applejack.

"Begging your pardon?"

"Growin' up, Ah never knew what language was bad language until Ah used it in front a' Granny. It's not like she'd a' given me a list."

"Applejack does have a point," agreed Twilight. "I think it might be reasonable to ask for a rulebook before we agree to anything."

"That's not at all what Applejack was saying!" interjected Rainbow. "What she means is that, without a rulebook, we can't know whether or not we're breaking a rule until we're punished for it."

"No, Ah was suggesting that the rulebook may not contain all a' the rules..."

"In my experience, Rules are meant to be bent," snorted Pinkie. "If they say "no loud music," does that mean you can play loud jazz, because they don't consider it to be a real form of music? Or how about this: Music requires instruments, and there are none. Just a washtub, a broomstick, and a couple of rubber bands. Not a real instrument, and therefore, not real music. And I find it almost unreasonable to classify fireworks as music."

Twilight held up her hoof to quiet them all down. "Let's not forget, everypony, that this is supposed to be paradise. There should be a fair amount of leeway, so long as we are neither negligent nor malfeasant. If we are caring, kind, and at least try to follow the rules as we are given them, we should be fine. Not to mention that, even if there are rules about what we can and cannot wear, Rarity can make it work."

"Long as I can fly, I'm in," stated Rainbow plainly, placing her hoof in the center of the table.

"Ah can't fathom sittin' around and waitin' fer all eternity. At the very least, it's somethin' ta do." Applejack pushed her hoof in.

"Twilight's right," smiled Rarity, reaching for the center. "I'm sure I can make it all work out."

"I already said I was in," agreed Spike. "I'll make sure it all works out."

Pinkie shoved her hoof in the center. "Fun with my closest friends? I couldn't ask for a better afterlife!"

"Then it's settled," smiled Twilight, placing her hoof on top of the others.

Once again, everypony turned to Look at Fluttershy, who still seemed afraid. "You can go on without me," she sniffed. "I'd still rather pay for my crimes."

Rainbow furrowed her brow. "Seriously?"

Fluttershy nodded. "No matter how many ponies I help, it won't change the fact that I abandoned Angel. And that's assuming I can even help them in the first place! I'm not good at dealing with other ponies' problems already, and doing this is just inviting more failure. I'd just slow you down..."

"That's nonsense, and you know it," snapped Applejack. "Everypony here knows that ya did yer best, and that's all that anypony can ask a' ya. We all know ya'd do anything ta make sure Angel is well taken care of."

"I'll go check on him, myself," snorted Rarity.

That drew Fluttershy's attention. "How?"

Spike flipped back a few pages. "It's in the contracts that our role is to ensure the safety of Equus and its citizens. I'm guessing Angel counts as a dependant, and Rarity does have the option to make a judgement as to who may or may not need protection. If she thinks Angel may be in danger, she is allowed to break orders, so long as doing so does not compromise her mission."

Fluttershy's eyes went wide. "You mean...?"

Twilight nodded. "According to the rules, you can go check on angel whenever the creature you're in charge of does not need immediate help."

Fluttershy's hoof shot to the center. "I'm in."