//------------------------------// // 11: Problems // Story: Safer in open hooves // by Elemental Fury //------------------------------// ‘Fear men with power for they are at risk of corruption Fear men with nothing for they are desperate Fear the children, for they decide the future of us all.’ I could never quite remember where I heard that quote, yet now I was starting to see what it really meant, the first line at least. Power leading to corruption, never have I heard a more accurate description of Blueblood and his ancestor, except for perhaps ‘absolute plotholes’ (That I had heard Luna muttering as we had been walking away from the protests on that day.) I was currently in Sugarcube corner, occasionally glancing left and right to see if any of my friends were about. Pinkie knew I was here because she was currently working the register and Rarity knew as well as I had told her where I was going before I left. Now that I think about it, that was the first time I had wandered anywhere in Equestria alone. I was occupying myself with a game on my phone when I heard the bell ring at the door. My eyes shifted up as I heard a low beep on my phone, I had lost my game. My eyes lingered upwards as I recognized the three fillies who had just wandered in. they were the same ones I had met in the forest. Apple Bloom went up to the counter to order from Pinkie Pie while Sweetie and Scootaloo looked around for seats before they spotted me. I smirked and waved at them to which they both responded with a wave of their own, however, Sweetie seemed slightly freaked out for some reason. Apple Bloom returned to her friends, Scootaloo pointed her out to me and within moments the fillies were around my table. “Is it alright if me an’ ma friends sit here, mister?” Apple Bloom asked with a confident smile on her face. “Sure, though if you’re wanting to talk it will have to be quick, I’m just waiting on somepony bringing me my order then I have to go.” I explained to the fillies as I looked to the counter to make sure we could definitely talk for at least a few minutes. “Well, thank ya kindly, mister-“ “Please, the names Troy.” I said quickly. “Thank ya kindly, Troy. me and my friends all so wanted to thank you fer what ya did with that monster.” Apple Bloom told me and my smirk turned into a full smile. “No problem, I just did what any decent person would do-“ “And what any normal person would undoubtedly be killed doing.” I heard a voice from behind me say. The actual voice itself made my blood run cold. “Then again, you’re no normal person, are you? Perhaps I was wrong, maybe you aren’t just a hairless monkey but a dangerous one as well!” “Nice to see you here too, Blueblood.” I said, turning to face the pompous prick. He was wearing a cold smile with a fire in his eyes I hadn’t ever seen in anypony or any human in my life. “Tell me, what does it take to bring you away from your high and mighty way of life down to the folk who actually bother to do an honest day’s work.” “How dare you, you ignorant peasant! If you must know, I am here following up on a lead which just so happens to be about you.” Blueblood told me. For someone who was getting help from the supernatural, you think he would be a least a little smarter. “I know about your little fight with that…thing in the forest. You are a clear and present danger to Equestria and I will prove it. We can’t let time bombs around decent ponies like those up in Canterlot.” “Clear and present danger?” I raised my eyebrows at his words. “Right now, the only thing that’s clear and present is your lack of observational skills. You live in Canterlot castle, right? So tell me, how did you fail to notice the two literal gods living there?” “You dare-“ “Yes, yes I do. See here’s the thing Blueblood, I’m using my brain right now, you know, the thing you lack. Now even with your prejudice, you couldn’t seriously think you were going to label me as dangerous based off of something any unicorn could have done, could you?” I asked. “You are dangerous! The princesses had time to hone their powers! All powerful unicorns had time, even that overly-accomplished, overly-appreciated and overly-ignorant foal Twilight Sparkle. Speaking of that idiotic mare-“ “DON’T bring Twilight into this, Blueblood unless you’re planning on finding out what you would look like with a broken snout!” I told him, he may have authority to do more than what others are allowed to but if he thinks that authority includes insulting any of my friends, he is sorely mistaken. “You dare insult me? I will have you exiled from Equestria for your behavior!” Blueblood exclaimed yet before I could answer I heard misses Cake speak up from behind me. “Excuse me, Blueblood, is it?” Misses Cake asked him. “Yes, what do you want? Make it quick.” I saw misses Cake frown at that. “What I wanted is to tell you that you’ve been exiled from my shop, get out and I better not see you here again!” Misses Cake told him, raising her voice enough that everypony else in the shop could hear, not that she had to as everypony had already been focusing on the fact a member of the nobility, a prince no less, had entered into the small shop. “WHAT?!” Blueblood screamed as his eyes turned to pinpricks and he gritted his teeth in anger. I had been expecting either misses Cake to tell him to get out again or for him to have another outburst yet neither happened. “Excuse me Madame, but I’m afraid you have been asked to leave.” I heard Pinkie’s voice speak up and saw she had snaked her hoof around bluebloods and started dragging him out. “Excuse me, you blind mare?! I am a stallion!” Blueblood was going into a full tantrum mood now as he nearly knocked a customer’s drink over as he flailed his hooves in a pointless attempt to escape Pinkie’s grasp. “Of course, I do apologize Madame.” Pinkie said as she turned to drag blueblood out. For a second I could have sworn she winked at me. “Hm, what a rude stallion. Totally undeserving of being called a prince. Here’s your dark chocolate cupcake Troy.” Misses Cake handed me my order and when I got it I bit a large chunk out of it, chewed for a minute and then swallowed. “Thanks misses Cake, great as always! Did you see that whole argument?” I asked, feeling bad that I had to disrupt her work. “Oh yes, from the very beginning. I must say, Troy, while I am glad you stuck up for yourself and dear Twilight as well, please pick your fights more carefully. There are some people you don’t want to annoy in Equestria and unfortunately, Blueblood is one of them.” “Don’t worry misses Cake, even as a prince there are limits to what he can do.” I told her before turning to the three fillies who all had looks of awe on their face. “If he attacks me again, I intend to make sure he realizes that. “Anyways, I’m sorry girls, I did want to talk but I had to go as soon as I got my order and I’ve got it now. If you really want to talk, I’ll be here at the same time tomorrow.” “Aw, okay mister...” Apple Bloom said with a look of disappointment on her face. “Thanks again, misses Cake.” “Anytime, dearie!” Misses Cake said and I gave her a smile. On my way out I bumped into Pinkie who was coming back from escorting Blueblood. “Oh, bye Troy. Actually, before you go, do I smell bad?” Pinkie asked and I gave her a confused stare. “No, you smell fine Pinkie. Why?” When she heard she smelt fine she beamed. “Oh good, I wanted to make sure cause I was taking out the trash.” Pinkie told me, eliciting perhaps more of a laugh than it should have, yet I hadn’t been expecting it. “Haha, Bye Pinkie.” I said before leaving the shop and heading off to where I had been intending to go the entire time, Twilight’s library. “Oh, Troy! What are you doing here?” Twilight asked when she saw me in the main room of the library. “Well for one, I should probably warn you Blueblood is on the prowl.” I said and I heard Twilight groan. “What does that lout want now?” Twilight asked with an exasperated expression. “Apparently, he found out about the fact that I’ve been charged up with magic.” I told her. “WHAT?!” Twilight screamed, causing me to cup my ears in pain. “How?!” “I don’t know, he mentioned the fight with the weird monster thing that came after Sweetie belle and her friends.” I told her. “I didn’t think he could get away with just that alone, though, then on the way here I realized what he actually said…” “What? Is it something we need to worry about?” Twilight was starting to panic, hyperventilating. Her eyes were shifting around the room out of habit. “Calm down Twi. He called me a ticking time bomb…I think he knows about my, um, magic problem.” I told her. “Oh Celestia no…” Twilight muttered. “That is the last thing we need.” “Yeah, it isn’t good…but I think I know exactly how this will go down. He’s going to relay this information to the nobles and they’re going to use it to drive their point across about me and how I shouldn’t be allowed to stay here.” “Most likely, it’s a working strategy but highly predictable, just like him.” Twilight said, sitting down and staring at the floor. “So here’s my question, is there any way I can fix my problem…well, not fix but slow it down, make it less of a 'we’re all going to explode and die in hellfire' issue?” I asked. “Well, I’m not sure I would put it quite like that. To answer your question, there might be a way but I need time to research.” Twilight told me, putting a small smile on my face as I turned to the door. “Thanks, Twi. That’s all I needed to hear.” I said as I headed for the exit. “I’ve gotta go now, I promised Rarity I would help with some stuff around her house.” “Okay, I’ll see you around Troy.” Twilight said. “See ya.” I replied before leaving. Sure, that demon guy said not to worry but I wasn’t planning on mentioning him to my friends unless it was necessary. This way there could also be proof that might be able to be used against Blueblood. This world has a cute exterior, but it can be extremely strange if you know the right people…or ponies rather.