//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Lily and somepony else 
// by Hyper44 
//------------------------------//

  After rounding a few corners Lily found herself stepping out into the town’s main square. A fair numbers of ponies were gathered and looking in the direction of a makeshift stage. To one side of the square was a small both where a goat was handing out hats to the fillies and colts. Each hat had two gray horns sticking out on either side and a name written on the back, though Lily couldn’t read yet.

She couldn’t see over the heads of all the adult ponies watching the stage so she found a stack of hay bales at the back and clambered up. Sitting down she gazed at the stage and waited with the crowds for whoever was supposed to appear. It didn’t take long before the curtain was swept aside and a minotaur stepped out onto the stage.

“So! All you little ponies want Iron Will to teach you how to be a lean, mean, tough assertive machine!?” Ponies cheered in response. “Do you ponies think you have what it takes?! If not Iron Will will soon make you believeeee! By the time this seminar you will be the toughest, roughest ponies aaaaround! Iron Will is the best mentor in all of Equestria and soon you doormats will be pushovers no moooore! For Iron Will is my name and training ponies is my game!” 

“Do we get a guarantee?” A voice piped up from the audience. 

Iron Will snorted and glowered down at the pony. “You dare question Iron Will?”

The stallion backed up but still managed to stutter out, “W-well, we’ll be p-paying good money for it so how do we know for sure that your methods will work?”

“So you want a guarantee?!” Iron Will snorted, “How about this; if you’re not satisfied you pay nothing! Iron Will can change any doormat into rough and tough assertive pony! There is no pony that Iron Will will fail to change and don’t dare to doubt my word!” He glared down at the stallion who had spoken up, “If you laugh in my face, then it's time to erase! Iron Will’s techniques will change anypony, ANYPONY big or smaaaall!” 

That was all Lily needed to hear. She had failed to change herself but he promised that he could help her do it. She also knew what she wanted to be and that was whatever he was. She hopped down the hay bales and scampered to the booth as iron Will got the crowd to chant, "When somepony tries to block, show them that you rock!"

When she reached the booth the goat tossed her a hat which she hurriedly put it on before scampering around the crowd as she headed for the stage steps.

“Remember, never apologize, when you can criticize!" Iron Will bellowed out as the little pink pony trotted up on stage and puffed up trying to look as tough as she could. Iron Will turned and scowled at the intruder on his stage as he stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Hey, Kid! What do you think you’re doing up here?   

Lily stood up on her back hooves, looked the minotaur in the eyes, squared her shoulders and yelled back, “ROOOAAAR! When some pony tries block, you show them you rock!”

“Oh-ho! You see everypony!” Iron Will called as he looked back at the crowd, “Iron Will can turn anypony into a lean, mean assertive machine!” The crowd cheered in response.

“Ah-ha, she already knows Iron Will’s next lesson, Don't be shy, look 'em in the eye."

“Don’t be shy, look um’ in da’ eye!” Lily mimicked.

“Cut in line, I'll take what's mine!"

“Cut in line, I takes what mine!”

"You make me lose, I blow my fuse!"

“You make me lose, I blows up fuse!” 

“Make an advertisement of my daughter and you’ll be fodder.” A new voice interjected. Everyone turned to see a stout looking stallion walking up onto stage. He had a dark brown coat and jet black mane.

“Who do you think you are walking up on my stage?!” Iron Will demanded glaring at the pony.

The stallion didn’t blink “I am Rowan and this is my daughter,” He stated as he swept Lily up and placed her on his back between two saddlebags. “I’ll be taking her with me now, good day.” He nodded curtly and turned around. 

“Do you not want to stay for Iron Will’s seminar? Already your daughter has learned to be assertive despite being so puny. Just think of what I could do for you.”

Rowan paused and glanced back over his shoulder, “Minotaur needs a child to sell his speech, he’s not fit to teach.” With that he turned and trotted around the corner with a slack jawed Iron Will and the crowd staring after him.