//------------------------------// // 2) Hopeful Futures // Story: The Rise of the Two Sisters // by Da lVlan //------------------------------// The time spent sitting there hearing the king talk was enthralling to say the least. The king wasn’t boring him with legislation, he was talking about the larger picture of the entire empire, and what a vision he had. “No pony should ever be a victim, no pony should worry about where his next meal will come from, never should a filly sleep out on the street.” The king gave him such a speech that Steadfast forgot about his hunger long enough to be excited about the prospect of working along side the king. Food quite forgotten at the moment, Steadfast sat there waiting to the vary end. “But as you know, a king needs to stand strong and be unquestioned if he is to bring this dream to fruition. I need the queen's role filled to placate the masses, but why not place someone in to the position to do more? I understand you have several younger siblings?” Steadfast almost missed his hint at a response needed. “Oh. Ah, yes your highness.” “Then you know how to teach fillies a thing or two as well. On top of holding this position, I'm hoping you will teach the princess her up and coming role and help her in her decisions. After all, the purpose of this entire role is to build something that will help all of Equestria for many years to come.” A moment of confusion meets this news. “Is it not Star Swirl the Bearded's job to teach the filly?” At this question the king stiffened, and there was almost a sense of rage that one can see in the kings eyes, but only for a moment. “The Archmage has many official duties, watching over the young of the princess isn't one of them. Besides, I feel an obligation to the queen's line. I need to make sure that the princess will be taught in regards to law. The Archmage is under no obligation to do this; you will be.” “Oh, come now you silly pony, you cant legislate someones desire to serve.” Steadfast heard from behind the king. The king turns immediately towards the speaker. Standing in the door way is an old pony with a pointed hat and a robe all decked out in bells. This had Stead very surprised considering there was no way the old pony should be able to make it this close without being heard across half the court yard. The smile the King had on his face is strained. “Mr. Swirl, I don't remember sending for you.” “I knew you wouldn't send for me, so I made it a point to show up, and even if I seem to be late, I was in the gardens since before you where... or is it will be in the garden before you? I do seem to be losing track of time.” The king had nothing to respond to this, so he replied with a direct question. “What has brought you here?” “You mean other than the excellent cranberry scones, picking up my favorite tea cup...” he said as he brushes crumbs from his beard, levitating an empty tea cup that looked like the rest of the others. “And bringing a wombat to the gardens?” The tick in the kings eye was visible as he calmly responded “Yes, other than those things.” “Oh, nothing immediately important. Just wanted to meet the poor, naive patsy you have chosen to fill the board to serve under the queen.” “I had asked for a single position,” the King said with anger just at the edges of his voice. “You had made the request, but I felt that this position was so important that I implored the masses to ask for an immediate vote. As it turns out, one vote was absent that would have passed the bill as it was, but to fix that some changes were made.” Steadfast then realized he had missed the emergency vote. The king calmed down instantly, and continued in a calm tone. “You interfered once again. That was the last time. You remember what I told you would happen the next time you interfered?” “Yes, but you got ninety-five percent of the original bill through, and with a seventy-eight percent majority, and you are now more popular than the Peanut-butter and jelly sandwich having acted so swiftly. Now how would it look if you fired me over something that was so beneficial?” With that, the mage smiled and brushed past the king, who is now obviously twitching his eye. The sound of bells makes his walk comical, but the speed he moved for his age was impressive. He pressed the flat of his face right against Steadfast's. Steadfast was very surprised and pulled back, but the strange old unicorn just pressed back in place. Eyes locked, steadfast sees the lavender eyes get a light hint of a dark blue aura. “Well well.” Steadfast thought in the voice of the strange pony. “I see you aren't the kind of pony I had thought would be here. I wonder if the king understands you as well as he thinks.” “Wait, why am I thinking in his tone of voice?” “You're not, I am.” “You're talking to me in your mind?” “No, I'm talking to you in your mind.” At this, Steadfast would have raised an eyebrow or backed away again, yet he felt as if his body wasn't working properly. “Relax, I'm using my magic to make it so we are communicating at the speed of thought. This way we aren't seen staring at each others eyes dreamily for very long. Not that I don't like your eyes, you do have beautiful eyes, they remind me of melting butter on a summers day... or mustard... or butter mustard.” “You're doing what?” “I am touching your mind with my specially developed brand of mind magic.” “Okay... you know earth ponies aren't supposed to be aided by magic, right?” “By what law?” “Well, its not illegal, its just not normal.” “You will soon find that what passes for normal around here involves secrets, back stabbing, and sitting still for hours to get a self portrait done.” Steadfast didn't even know what to think in response. So he decided to get on a new topic. “What do you want?” “It's not what I want, it's what you will want and what you wish to accomplish within your new office, but knowing what I now know, I can see that I may have made a tactical error.” “Look... sir... I have no idea what your talking about, and you are confusing me more than helping, so can you get to the point? “Ah, the point, the point isn't what I'm here for. I am here to give you a place to retreat to when you realize that your role here isn't what you think it is. When you need someone to talk to, then say my name. I will lend you an ear when you need one, and advice when you ask, but only if you let me...” Steadfast just stood waiting for him to continue until he realized the old pony wasn't going to continue. “Oh, uh... okay.” The next thing he is aware of is the the old pony saying out lowed “perfect” and a small sharp pain is in Stead's head as he is forced to go cross eyed. Then he heard the jingle of bells as he walked back behind him and said “I will see you in the counsel chamber when you present the possible candidates.” Steadfast shook his head and cleared it of all the weird stuff that just happened. When the King just stood there looking at where the strange unicorn went, Steadfast cleared his throat and the king looked at him. He could tell the king was angry, and decided to keep his mouth shut. “That pony is so insufferable I cant stand him! He intervenes when it's the least convenient, and messes up all of my carefully laid out plans. I'm sorry, but it looks as if you aren't going to have to serve the role alone.” “If you wish, I can see if I can find a way to interpret the law to get what you want.” The king looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “You are an ambitious one aren't you?” Steadfast looked down and just stays quiet. As the king circled the table and sat back down, he regally said “Very well, you may have your look, and compare it to the original, see what you can do to make it as close to the original as possible. Now go, I need to get ahead of this fiasco.” And with that, Steadfast was dismissed, and he got up and started walking out of the garden and out of the castle. Only when he has left the building with a copy of the new bill in hoof does he realize that he hadn't managed to eat anything in the garden, and was starving. First things first. He was going to be of no use to the king or his family if he was not able to concentrate due to a lack of food, and with that he decided to ask Bright Scale out for lunch.