It is nice in Equestria. Nice warm sun against my dark skin, my short afro looking so shiny. My suit's alightly uncomfortable for the heat, but I need to look my best for my first customer. From what I've been told by Shining Obsidian, my handler, White Light is a virgin. Well, she isn't the only one. I check my suit, all black with a white shirt and red tie, and lean over to look at my shoes. Everything seems to be in order so I look about.
So many small stores and little booths with ponies and humans alike, selling and buying different products. I see an orange-ish mare selling the biggest apples I've ever seen in my entire life, and I'm twenty-one. There a pink one with a poofy mane just hopping around everywhere.
I have to find that library with...Twilight? Yeah, Twilight Sparkle. I have to talk to her about White Light before I go see her. Now, if I'm standing in front of the Saddlebucks the library should be six blocks south so I need to turn left and start walking.
Being six feet and seven inches tall gives me long strides as I glide down the street at a reasonable pace, at least for me. Most of the humans are only five feet and eight inches tall, on average. In fact, I'm the only African American in the business...at least to my knowledge. I only know of my company and we have weekly meetings about rules and regulations and I'm always the only dark-skinned one there. There aren't even any Pacific Islanders or South Americans there! I swear, there are nothing but Caucasians here.
That may have sounded racist to some of you, but it's true. And if I've said anything racist in your opion, you should hear the others I work with. Every time I run into one of them, they disrespect me. "Hey nigger, get the fuckout of Equestria; we don't want your kind here." Or maybe something along the lines of "If you don't get your black ass out of Equestria, we'll have your nigger ass sent back where the fuck you came from. Now be a good nigger and go home!"
I try not to let it get to me...sometimes...they just gang up on me and I can't control it. They just make me so sad and and and...I just snap. I've already got two strikes and this is my first job! Usually, induction takes two to three weeks, so you see the time frame I had to get accustomed to the rules.
Rule number one, do whatever it takes to get the customer to ask for further services. Rule number two, bow to their every whim. (You know, that's basically the same thing as rule number one!) Rule number three, no married mares unless the husband gives consent. Rule number four, you cannot sleep with anypony unless they hire you or you are in a relationship with them.
Oh, they have made it legal - was it ever illegal? - to marry a pony. I find the law wonderful for true love takes many shapes. True love doesn't care about race, species, disability, intelligence or anything else. Me, I think I've fallen in love with my handler. Which brings me to rule number five.
Rule number five, a Handler and her Gentleman may not have sexual relations while the Handler is on duty. My handler, Shining Obsidian, is absolutely beautiful. She's six feet from head to hoof. Her mane, tail and coat are all obsidian black. Her Cutie Mark is a diamond on the left, a ruby on the left, an emerald on top and a sapphire on the bottom; they're arranged in a diamond formation. I don't know why that's her Cutie Mark, but I'm too shy to ask.
I should get back to rules so here's number six: no fighting with other Gentlemen. You know, that rule should be...revised. Rule number seven, no vulgar language to Handlers unless they offend you or they approve of such talk. Rule number eight, attend one seminar per week. (The seminars are to keep us up-to-date on everything.) Rule number nine, extra pay to a Gentleman is to be done with as pleased. And last but not least, rule number ten, do not break any of the above rules.
I think rule ten is obvious and that the seminars aren't exactly necessary, but I'll do it. I need this job and it's has good pay. I just can't get fired. If I get fired, it's back to working at resturaunts. I don't want to go back to that. I just became a naturalized citizen and I fianlly get to take part in all things American, well, all things American for a twenty-eight year-old Africa-born man that stands over six feet tall with skin almost as black as the night and a short afro that people constantly like to stick pencils in.
I can see the library coming up and slow my pace slightly. I want to make sure I don't crush anything or step on anybody when I go through the door. I just am really surprised by the amount of vednors, both human and pony, that stand next to each other. It's absolutel harmony between two species.
I doubt it, but maybe there are humans in the library helping Twilight Sparkle out. That would be very nice. Speaking of the library, it's only a few yards away. I look at my a suit, making sure it's neat, and walk though the front door that is left wide open.
I smell grapes instantly and see the librarian holding aerosol cans of air freshener in magical auras. She spots me and sets down the cans on a table in the corner. Bookshelves are on every wall, crammed with books on every subject of human and pony history and pop culture. As I look at the books she trots up to me and introduces herself.
"Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle. How may I help you?"
Her voice is gentle and educated. She talks with a humble air about her, seeming like she doesn't want to flaunt her stuff. I look down at her, about a whole foot lower than my eyes. Hey eyes glisten almost like Japanese anime.
"Bonjour Madame Sparkle, je m'appelle Ukweli." I cough, realizing I spoke in French. "Hello miss Sparkle, my name is Ukweli. I uh...I have a few questions regarding a mare. I was told you hvae on document, profiles of every pony in Ponyville. I am a Gentleman and to perform my job at the highest possible level and do the best I possibly can, I need to see one profile in particular."
She smiles up at me and stand on her back legs, now towering over me by about two feet. She puts a hoof on my shoulder and chuckles slighty before going back onto all four legs. I tilt my head back down to look at her.
"You are taller than the rest. Six feet, seven and sixteenths inches tall. And you are also a different race than the rest. They are what most call White. You are Black in their terms. But I want to know the correct term. Isn't it African-American?" she asks me politely.
"Yes, Miss Sparkle, that is correct." I respond quietly.
She stares at me for quite some time and I just stare back. We hold each other's gaze until another pony walks in. I look behind me and see that orange mare that I spotted by Saddlebucks earlier.
"Howdy Twi. Who's this you got here?" she questions in a Southern accent.
"Oh, I see you haven't met yet. Applejack, this is Ukweli. Ukweli, Applejack," she explains.
I turn around completely and get on one knee. I life her hoof and kiss it lighty. "I am pleased to meet you Miss Applejack."
I see a small blush on her cheeks. How do they blush? I know that blushing is just blood rushing to your cheeks but they have fur, shouldn't that be hidden? She stares at me quietly with a short smile replacing the blush.
"Likewise Mister Ukweli. Now, Twi, I need some help at the farm, think you can lend a hoof?" the mare grunts at Twilight.
"Oh, of course Applejack! But I have to see to his needs first. I'll be there in a few minutes." the Unicorn replies.
Applejack gives a quick nod to Twilight, then me, and leaves. I watch her shake her rear as she walks out of the library and, just for a second, catch a glimps of her nethers as she swishes her tail.
"Looks like AJ likes you." I hear from behind.
I twist around and look at her in confusion. I stand up and dust my pants off gentle while the lavander pony answers my question.
"You saw how she shaked her butt when she walked away? That's one sign of a pony likeing another pony. And then she lifted her tail out of the way so you could have a look. A sure sign a pony is ready for some fun. Now, who did you need this profile on?"
I blush and tell her the name of White Light. I watch her go upstairs so I wait patiently for her to return. I walk about the large, irregluarly shapped room and look at different books. Some books are ones I've read: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Hunger Games, Huckleberry Finn and Moby Dick. Some are pony books that I have no idea what they might contain. One book, a pony-written one, does catch me eye; Love Of A Princess.
I take the book off the shelf and stare at the description of the soft-cover book. What happens when a teacher loves her student more than she should? What happens when a Princess falls in love with her protegé? What will that protegé say when she learns the truth? Will she accept it and be happy, or will she turn away the pony she once held close? Did Princess Celestia like Twilight Sparkle for more than her magical abilities? Did something more...romantic happen between the two of them? Were the long nights of studying actually something more?
I squeak when I feel a hoof touch my back. I whip around, hiding the book behind me back. I see that I was touched by the librarian and relax, sighing in relief. She smirks and I gulp softly.
"I see you've stumbled upon a book you rather ejnoy. May I see the cover?" she growls menacingly.
I pull the book from behind me, showing her the book title. I look down at her face as she reads the title and seems to go into a state of dream. I tap her gently on the head to bring her back to the real world. She shakes her head vigorously before handing me the folder with everything I need to know about White Light.
"Sorry about that. Sometimes I space out. I've read that book before, pretty good. I am surprised somepony had the guts to write about me and Celestia like that. The thought of me and my own mentor hopping in beg and fooling around...so silly. You see that name right there on the cover?"
I look down and read it. Largest Whip Kilt. Wierd name, even for a pony. I hear Twilight laugh at my befuddlement. I look at her sheepishly and thank her for the info. Before I can leave, she grabs me and keeps me still. I let her rub the area of my groin and I watch as she smiles.
"You've got a big one. How about I warm you up before going to White Light's place?" she asks with bedroom eyes directed at me.
"A-a-as much as I'd like to, it's against the rules of Gentlemen. Rule number four says we can't do anything unless hired by a mare or we are in a relationship with them. Please Miss Sparkle, one more strike and I'm fired. Just call the company and ask for Ukweli or Truth," I stammer in worry.
She groans and leaves me alone. "Fine...I'll call and play by the rules." I open the folder and read through the things she likes, dislikes, conditions she has, intelligence level, species, fur color, eye color, tail and mane color, height, weight, age and even sexual experience and relationship status.
"How do you keep up-to-date on these? Aren't there several thousand ponies in Ponyville? How do you have the time to write down everything when they're constantly changing?"
"Oh, that's easy! A simple spell that edits the information at any time. It's very helpful, especially for Gentlemen. So, what is the number to your company? I do not go out much, so I don't always get to see the things on billboards or signs around town."
I slip a card out of my pocket that contains the basic information of the company as well as my signature. She takes it and stares at it for a few seconds, possibly absorbing everything on it. It disaapears suddenly and Twilight rises high to give me a kiss on the cheek. She slips the folder from my grip and walks back upstairs. I stand there stunned until she comes back and pokes me.
I look at the book she has lent me and re-read the description. I check the author's name and something in my head clicks. That name is an anagram - the letters are the jumbled form of another word. It takes me a few seconds, but I realize what word they used to be.
"Miss Sparkle! You wrote this!" I cry, thrusting the book at her. "You used and anagram of your own name to have it published! But...why? Why would you write such a story about your mentor and...wait, Celestia? Princess Celestia, the co-ruler of Equestria? She was your teacher? I...I am honored to have made your aqquaintance." I add kneeling.
She taps me on the shoulder and I look up into her glistening eyes. "Yes, she was my mentor. Yes, I wrote the story. But who says it's not non-fiction? Who says that didn't actually happen?" Her eyes glitter with teasing knowledge and I stand up, dusting my pants off once again. "Maybe you can learn if we ever meet again..."
I smile and respond to her little comment. "You mean when we meet again. All you have to do is call." I turn and walk towards to door, but hear her say something peculiar. "Je parle français très bien." Huh, Twilight says she speaks French very well. I'll have to keep that in mind.
I walk out and let her close the door behind me. Thinking back to the folder, I get the address of White Light and start walking towards the Ever-Free Forest. I don't know what's so scary out there, the species here, although they resemble animals that are very viscious on Earth, are quite docile. I don't go too close to the Ever-Free, I know that going past the cottage where the mare they call Fluttershy lives is past White Light's house.
I look around for her two-story house, painted blue on the bottom and a light red on the top with white framing around the doors and windows. I walk up to the front door and knock three times. After the third knock, the door flies open, revealing a six foot tall, all white Earth mare. The second thing I notice are her eyes. Her eyes are blue, bluer than the ocean
I bend down and kiss her hoof and see a blush when I stand back up.
Bonjour mademoiselle. My name is Ukweli, but you may call me whatever you want on this day. I am here to fulfill your every need, your every want." I go back to the likes listed in her folder and grab a few out. "Maybe we could go watch the sunset from the beach, or perhaps we could go to Sugarcube Corner and dine on a deliscious red velvet cake topped with buttercrème incing. Maybe we could even go to the spa and relax in a mud bath."
I hear her moan inside her throat. She grabs me and pulls me into her house. The door slams behind me and I look about the room. It's furnished with a few cushions for ponies to use as seats and a couple human chairs. I see several paintings on the walls of her home. I recognize The Scream - Edvard Munch, Portrait de Mr Minguell - Picasso, Starry Night - Van Gogh, and The Potato Eaters - also Van Gogh.
Where did she get human art? And of this quality?
I feel White Light pulling on my shirt and I look down at her. She smiles, then frowns. "How do you know so much about me? Have you been stalking me?"
I shake me head and reply "No! Of course not! I swear I was not stalking you!" That seems to satisfy her and she leaves me to my own devices as she goes upstairs.
I admire her paintings for a few more moments before I look at the rest of the first floor. There is nothing but the kitchen on this floor, which has an ice box about as tall as me, a dishwasher that I wonder how it works and several cuboards containing glasses, plates and bowls. I leave the kitchen and go back into the livingroom. She's still not down so I sit in one of the chairs that sits in the corner near the door.
After five minutes of sitting patiently, I am rewarded with the sight of my mare. She comes down the stairs in a lovely dress that flows about her body. The dress, entirely black, prefectly contradicts her white fur, mane and tail. It is almost as if she is drapped in a beautiful shadow that seems to be ever-shifting on her back. Each step she takes shows the reflective material of which the dress is made. Each stride makes her whole being seem to be floating about.
She walks up to me, her dress slinking about her body, hugging her curves, showing off her large flank and making her look more desriable than Obsidian. I shake myself out of the trance as she stops in front of me. "How do I look?" she asks me sensually.
"Absolutely stunning. Exquisite. Stunning. Delightful." Each word gives her a blush that grows deeper and deeper. "Ravishing. Divine. Pulchritudinous." I feel she's had enough now that her whole face is a dark red. I bend down and run my fingers through her perfectly brushed mane. She allows me to do so, but puts a hoof on my bent leg. I can feel warmth radiate from it and enjoy the bliss.
The hoof starts to slide up my leg, going toward my crotch. I stop it before she gets a chance to feel. I her her whinny and I smile. "Just wait. Let me show you some fun before you delve into sexual desires. This is my first time Miss Light. I just ask you to wait. I promise that you can do whatever you want if you wait until later."
"O...okay then...I did not know. They do not tell me anything about you. This...this is my first time as well." She clears her throat and covers her eyes as a tear falls from it. I reach underneath her hooves and wipe away the tears. I feel her grab me into a tight hug that I return. We stand there as she cries on my back, just listening to the sound of her sobs. She finally quiets after several minutes.
She pulls away from me and stands back on all fours. She stares at me, her eyes red and smiles. I watch her horn glows momentarily as her eyes go back to their normal color. The aura disappears and she pecks me on the cheek. I kiss her back and then open the door.
"Do you know where we are going?"
"I was just getting the door for you Miss Light. It is my job as a Gentleman to make you as happy as I can." I reply. Luckilly, it is enough to make her giggle and walk out the front door. I follow her and shut the door behind me. She walks to the street and turns left, back towards Ponyville.
"We shall be going to a little resturaunt that I've heard of. It came up just after your company was formed. It is a special place just for Gentlemen and Mares." she explains. I have heard of the place. It is called G4M's - Great For Mares. I do not really like the title, since it implies nothing about the business, but I guess it does not need to.
It takes not long to get there and inside. White Light must have made reservations just for us. I feel the slight bulge of my wallet in my back pocket and try to remember how much money I have on me. I saved up a fair amount from my previous jobs and have some money in the bank, but I always have street cash. That's one thing Obsidian always said to me: Always bring money.
I knew it was good to listen to her. The menus tell of prices higher than most things I am used to purchasing, but I will do it for my Mare. We have to wait for the waiter for about twenty minutes. In that time frame, we eat breadsticks and keep quiet, not really knowing what to say to one another. When the waiter, an all blue male Unicorn, finally comes, he asks us what we want to order.
"Hello, how may I help you?" he asks us in French.
I tell him our order in French and he leaves. "What did you say to him? I didn't know you spoke French. I didn't even know they spoke French in here..."
"I said 'We'll have the Pasta Puttanesca.' It comes with feta cheese and spinach. I also ordered us some French Bordeaux, I hope you enjoy it, Miss White Light," I say simply. "Oh, and I uh, it was my first language where I am from. I...I'm not from America like the other Gentleman here."
"Really? Well...where are you from then? I didn't know of any place but America. I haven't really paid attention to news or anything..." she admits with a slight blush.
"Africa. I really do not enjoy my past..." I start lowering my voice with each word as I remember my childhood and all the evil things I had to do to survive. "It..it was so horrible...all of them...they were crazy, but there was nothing I could do to stop it..."
"Oh...poor soul...." She put a hoof and the table. I placed my hand on top of it and rubbed it slowly. "Ukweli....Truth...whatever you want me to call you....I'm here. I know all of that is gone now. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't."
"I know that but...the memories..." I feel tears weeling up in my eyes that I hold back. "They'll never leave me Miss White Light...never..."
She stands up and comes around to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. "You should forget. Forget it ever happened. You were supposed to come to make me happy, but it seems I've made you sad. I want you to go. I'll be fine, but you aren't. I'll take care of everything, just go home."
"No, Miss White Light, I cannot. I shall stay here and show you the time you deserve. I shall not waver, for being a Gentleman is my duty."
The last sentance is the motto of the Gentlemen. I memorized it because it has more meaning than just pleasing mares from another universe. It fits everyday life. Each day, it is my duty to be a gentleman to all those I encounter. Proper speaking, correct mannerisms, perfect understanding of body language and knowledge of boundaries thoughout life.
"I want you to understand," I begin. "I want you to understand that I will stay here, because you need me. I am here for you Miss White Light."
She lets me go and returns to her seat across from me. "I understand now, Ukweli. I understand perfectly." She smiles brightly, a thin line of her teeth showing between her lips. I copy her as I hear hooves clicking up behind us.
I turn slightly and see it's our waiter, carrying our orders of pasta. He sets them down gently and says "Bon appetite" before leaving once again. The plates they use to serve are absolutely decorative, with flowing colors and wonderful flowers along with delicious looking fruits.
But the food itself is even more appealing. The pasta, perfect in color, sits beneath a thick red sauce with crumbled feta cheese coating each square ince of sauce and pasta with a circle of spinach leaves resting atop the whole thing. Several decorative garnishes such as basil and lemon thyme, even a few pieces of lemongrass sit upon the delectable meal.
"Wow..." I hear White Light mutter. "It looks so..." Her voice trails off, not knowing a word she can use to describe it. She unravels the napkin, fork and knife, planting the napkin beneath the plate and lifting the fork with a hoof.
How do they do that? They have hooves, yet they can hold things. How is that possible? I ignore that odd event and start eating my food slowly, delicately almost. I place the napkin on my lap and scooch my chair in. I put my left hand in my lap and use my right hand to twirl noodles and bring them to my mouth.
I have to blow to cool them off as they're steaming from being just cooked. Once they hit my toungue, I feel the flavors explode. Compliments to the chef who cooked this perfectly. I can taste the tomatoes in the sauce. Hints of basil and other herbs assault me as I start tasting the bell peppers and onions that were sautéed in lemon juice.
"I must say, this is quite the best meal I have ever tasted. I do not know by whom this was cooked, but I must say they did absolutely wonderful!" I say after swallowing my mouthful.
Across from me, the mare nods. "It is! Thanks for ordering..I'll pay...I couldn't ask you to-"
"Shh-shh-shh. None of that. I am perfectly able to." I reach into my reach pocket and reveal my leather walet. I open it and show the contents to her: my immigration Visa, several hundred dollars as well as bits, a Mastercard, a library card, my Driver's License and state ID for Ohio.
"Wow...I had no idea Gentlemen were paid so much..." she mutters.
"Oh, that is not from the company," I state. "This is money I earned working in fields. The back-breaking work was well worth the pay off. My musculature has quite been able to proove my long life of hard work..." Memories of my old life start to return...
All the horrible things I did...my own mother...my own father....my younger sister...the only family I had....I shouldn't have...but it would have hurt so much more had I not...
I feel the tears returning. No, Ukweli. You must not! Stay strong and forget all of it! I return my walet to my pocket and blink back the tears I can hear White Light's voice calling.
"Truth? Truth, are you okay? Don't cry, I'm here." I feel her hoof land on my hand. The cold horseshoe on my hand sends a soothing signal to the rest of my body and I relax slightly. I can also feel a suction...almost like a vaccum. No, gentler than that. Almost like a suction cup. The kind you use to hang a sign or navigational system perhaps.
I put my other hand atop her hoof and stoke it gently. "You are a sweet mare Miss White Light. Sweeter than most people I have known throughout my life...thank you..."
"It's my job, in case you haven't noticed...you never looked at my Cutie Mark?"
"I did my best to refrain...I did not want to offend you...I felt I needed to wait until later in the evening..." I admit.
"Well, you truely are a Gentleman then..." I blush slightly, finding the praise slightly too much for me. "I want you to know I'm thankful you're my first. I hope I can find a stallion just like you...but, with how things are...that won't happen...not for a wretch like me."
"What are you talking about?" I counter. "You are a lovely mare! Any stallion would want a pony as beautiful as you! You have great taste in art as well! And you can affor things most ponies couldn't..."
"Um...about that..I'm not actually a pony, per say...I'm actually...actually I'm..." she stammers.
"Actually what?"
"I'm...a horse..."
"What's the difference? Aren't you the same basically?" I don't know what she's ashamed about.
"Our bodies are somehwta alike...but horses are like Earth ponies...except lower...we're hated...seperated...they don't like our kind...they think we're scum...we're giants but aren't even as strong as some of the Earth ponies..."
"Miss White Light...I understand your feelings...but you aren't...my people were treated the same way...just stay strong Miss White Light. I didn't go through some of the things my people went through, but I went through things they never did...I...I...oh, god, why did I have to?" I can't hold them in anymore. The tears fall. They stream from my eyes.
"No, no Ukweli, don't cry!" she exclaims, coming over to me. I feel her grasp me. "It's okay, I'm here...let me show you that it'll be fine, let me show you you have nothing to ever worry about again..." She presses her lips against mine. I can do nothing but accept it and let her kiss me getnly.
I stroke her back, rubbing the silky dress and holding her close. I can feel somebody tap me on the shoulder so I take my lips off White Light. I turn around and see a guy, skin just as dark as mine. "Ukweli?" he says.
I wipe the tears away and look closely. "Yes? Wait...you look familiar..." I know this man from somewhere. His skin...his eyes....his hairline...I know him...
"Brother....it's me...I thought you were dead..."
Brother? It's...no, it cannot be him...the rebels had him in thier grasp...he was one of them...how did Giza get out?