"I suppose it is rather fortuitous that you arrived then," Mayor Mare said as she looked over her glasses at the unicorn sitting opposite her. "The Golden Oak Library is in need of a caretaker while Princess Twilight is away."
"I have to say I'm grateful for your consideration Miss Mare," replied the unicorn, smiling gently. "Though I can't help but wonder why you don't select a pony perhaps more qualified than myself."
"Alas they're aren't that many Pony's willing to supervise over the library," she said sighing slightly. "They're... intimidated by the fact that the library is practically Twilight's castle. And those that aren't I can hardly trust to look over the library with great care, or are already in full time employment."
"I see," the unicorn said nodding. "What makes you so certain you can trust the library with me then?"
Mayor Mare blinked. "I am... uncertain. Something about you just makes you seem... trustworthy."
"Definitely not my Cutie Mark I assume," he chuckled.
Mayor Mare's eyes flicked to the mark on his cheek. The white skull emblazoned on a black shield.
"Well," she said slowly. "The skull is rather worrying but shield Cutie Marks are often the signs of guardians or protectors. If there's one more pair of eyes watching Ponyville's back I can't see anything wrong with that."
"I better be getting paid for policing the streets if that's what you're asking for," he joked. She laughed and picked up his application forms, tapping them into alignment.
"We'll see," she said, setting them down again. "Everything checks out. Unless there's anything else you'd like to add you can start straight away."
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat for a moment, before looking at Mayor Mare, brushing his black mane from his eyes. "I need to ask you a favour Miss Mare." He nudged the larger of the two bags that lay at his feet. "And it concerns the contents of this bag."
"I see," she said slowly. "And what exactly would you like to ask me about your own personal possessions?"
"Is there anywhere I can keep them?" he asked. "Somewhere where a passing pony wouldn't be able to find them."
She raised an eyebrow at the request.
"Any particular reason you wouldn't want to keep them on your person?" she asked.
"These aren't the sort of possessions one leaves lying around let's put it like that," Battle said. "I guess you could say that these are the tools I don't use very often. They're also of some extreme... personal value so I would like them safe."
Mayor Mare tapped her fingers together, her face formed into a thoughtful expression. She seemed to wrestle with some kind of huge internal decision. It was not uncommon for ponies to put valuable items under her trust, but they were often items of extreme financial worth. It was extremely odd that this unicorn would like to place his tools into her care. Still, she had a duty to the residents of Ponyville and she would see to it that whatever was in that bag was kept safe until such a time as its owner needed it.
"I suppose we could keep them in the city vault," she said slowly. "Just so long as they're nothing dangerous."
"I can assure you Miss Mayor that, like most tools these items are perfectly safe without a pony to use them," he said, a cold touch to the edge of his smile.
Mayor Mare shifted uncomfortably as a cold shiver ran up her spine. "Well then it should be perfectly acceptable for us to look after them for you."
The cold edge to his smile disappeared, becoming more warm and friendly. "Thank you."
"You're most welcome. Now there is of course the matter of your pay."
"My favourite word in the Equestrian language," he joked.
"Quite. You'll be paid eight bits, ten parts an hour for every hour the library is open and fully functioning. Twilight usually opened the library at nine o'clock in the morning and didn't close it 'til eight at night. You may keep these opening hours or you may edit them as you see fit. Be certain to tell me whenever you make such a change of course.
"Of course ma'am."
"Excellent. The library is often shut on Sunday's, but you can open your doors to whomever you see fit whenever you wish as the library also serves as your place of residence. You should receive your pay on Sundays as well... providing they arrive on time."
"Why wouldn't they?"
Mayor Mare sighed. "Unfortunately Golden Oaks Library falls under the delivery route of... Derpy Hooves."
"Who?"
"Oh, a delightfully pleasant pegasus pony. She's a wonderful wonderful mare... she just doesn't have the best sense of direction in the world."
"So when you say my pay won't arrive on time, you mean it'll most likely be caught up in somepony else's mail?"
"That pretty much sums it up."
"Well this should lead to some interesting encounters," he said with a slight smile.
"Quite."
She reached under her desk and set a small pouch on the desk between them. He reached for it and took it into his grasp. The slight chink of metal on metal told him what may lay inside.
"This small amount of funds should ensure you don't have any discomfort for your first week," Mayor Mare said, confirming his suspicions. "Twilight said she left the kitchen's fully stocked so there might not be any need for the extra bits so long as you use moderation."
"Understood," he said, slipping the money into his pocket.
"You won't be expected to return the money to me until the end of the month at the earliest," she said. He raised an eyebrow at this.
"Month? How long is Twilight going to be gone for?"
"According to Princess Celestia she should be gone for several months at least," Mayor Mare explained. "She's studying some archaeological site in Zebrika. What for I know not but I do know she took her assistant Spike with her."
"Zebrika eh? Sounds pretty exotic."
"Oh it is!" Mayor Mare exclaimed. "I have often wished to visit such far off countries, especially Zebrika. Such a wonderful country, that rich culture, that unique history. Sadly I have been unable to find time to leave Ponyville and whenever I do something comes up to keep me here. Have you ever been to Zebrika?"
The instant he heard the question a rush of memories came rushing back to him. The scalding heat of the sun on his back and of the sand at his feet. The hot desert winds that blew dust and dirt into his face and eyes. The cold and terrible nights. The feeling of steel cutting his flesh...
"Once," he whispered and Mayor Mare's face lit up. "But it was during the civil war. I didn't see much there except sand and suffering."
"Oh," she said softly, her smile disappearing. Then her features perked up again. "But the civil war was years ago. The country must be in much more stable position now than it was then surely?"
"Oh most definitely," he agreed.
Mayor Mare picked up his application forms again, tapping them into alignment on her desk before setting them down. She took out a rubber stamp from its inkwell. After making sure the rubber base was sufficiently covered in blue ink, she stamped it onto each one his papers and handed them back to him. He noticed that the blue ink said 'Application Approved' in big, blue, bold lettering.
He placed them in the front pouch of his rucksack, the smaller of his two bags, before standing up and slinging it onto one, broad shoulder. He nodded to Mayor Mare, before extending his hand out to hers.
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Mayor," he proclaimed. She took his hand and shook it vigorously.
"And to you sir," she smiled. "I'm glad I could be of assistance."
His grin widened at that before he turned on his heel and began to walk out of the office. Just as his hand grasped the door handle Mayor Mare stood up and called after him: "One more thing!"
He did a double take and turned to her. "Yes?"
She readjusted her glasses before she spoke. "Welcome to Ponyville Battle Ready."
He smiled: "Thank you Miss Mayor. I have a feeling I'm going to like it here."