Red Romper hated his name. Because he hated his name, he hated almost everypony else. THEY got fun names or cool names. He did not even need to hear a pony’s name to know that it was better than his!
That young mare over across the park was a perfect example! She was a pretty light blue with a dark blue mane and tail. Was she content with the beauty that she was given? Not a all!
She was tricked in black shiny satins and black fine net! She had a collar with big, forbidding spikes and cuffs on her canons, just up from black shiny shoes. The cuffs had spikes too. She had a black beret and a necklace of dark metal with a dark star in a circle pendant. She wore none of it like it was a costume.
Muttering darkly to himself, he growled, “Another of those dratted fake New Moon witch ponies! She ought to get honest work! Instead, they all freeload, beg and try to imitate that Non-Equine magic like that crazy goat up on the mountain!
He watched as the pony across the park took her pendant in hoof, then moved the same hoof around on the ground like she was drawing something. Then she just sat and waited, looking for a handout, no doubt.
It was not long before a brown stallion in a business collar and tie strode self importantly up the path past her. He paused long enough to spurn dirt from the pathway in her direction. She bowed her head and, as soon as the pony left, she popped both front hooves together. She then got up and strolled along the same path as the business pony.
Red could not see for sure through the park’s bushes but it looked like she picked something up. As soon as she did whatever it was, she changed course. Crossing the park, she went straight to Caramel Treat’s Sweets. There she and that dumb palomino waitress joked back and forth a bit. The waitress went in and soon emerged with a veritable feast on a big tray!
It was too much! Red charged across the cobbled street, demanding loudly, “Gimme some of that! You don’t, I gonna call the police! I seen you steal it from that brown pony!”
Caramel Treat, the well known werewolf and restaurateur, was out the door like a shot! She shouldered her huge gray and black wolf’s body between Red and her dark dressed customer.
Turning her immense fanged head to Red, she stated flatly, “We mean that sign! Either back up what you have just accused loudly enough to draw Constable Crager from his post on the other side of the park or leave.”
She pointed with a furry forefoot at a sign famous throughout Equestria. It showed a fine portrait of Caramel Treat in her present form of an Everfree Ridgeback wolf on one side and her mate Fangrin, also in wolf form, on the other. Between them were the words:
If you have any problem with any customer of ours for kind, race, species, color, creed or any other reason at all, PLEASE LEAVE. WE BITE! - - HARD!
Before he could turn away, the official voice of Constable Crager demanded, “Red, if you cannot prove what you just shouted, I shall have to arrest you for disturbing the peace and attempted extortion.”
Red wilted a bit but tried to bull through. “I was over in the park. I seen that witchy pony there do some evil spell. Then a brown pony with a tie come through the park. She chase him down in them bushes and robbed him! She come straight here to spend her loot!”
Constable Crager responded, “If that is what you claim, then I have no choice … ”
Red gloated, “Now you are in for it, Witchy!”
Constable Crager finished what he was saying as if not interrupted, “But to place you under arrest. Please do not make me use force!”
“ARREST ME!? If she didn’t steal it, where did she get all that money?”
A spare white pegasus with a flat black hat joined the group, suggesting, “Perhaps, Red, if you had asked that politely of Penny, you would not be in trouble again.”
Turning to the black dressed mare, now identified as Penny, he added, “I got your most welcome Magic Net call, my dear. I left the Assembly in good hooves and came at once.”
Penny gestured to the table. “Please sit, Reverend Smallflower. I know that you would try to order the cheapest things, so I already ordered for you!
“I have more than just a nice meal for you. Please take these five golden bits for your fund to feed the needy.”
Reverend Smallflower gathered the coins with a happy smile. “In the name of the Twins, Penny, I thank you.”
As he sat to eat, he suggested, “Before the good Constable removes Red, there, perhaps you could share the origin of this money that you are so generously sharing.”
Penny nodded and swallowed a mouthful of clover steak with mushroom gravy before explaining, “I was mindful of your excellent sermon on how the Twins share the sky. I noticed that the crescent of the Night Mare was in the sky along with her sister of the Day, so I prayed for a blessed day from them both. I sat to meditate.
“That brown pony mistook my sitting in meditation for begging and spurned some dust of the path at me. That made me angry so, following your excellent advice, I took a moment to calm myself before following him to request an apology.
“Being so far behind him, let me notice something blue in the brush at the path edge. It was a cheap blue cotton coin purse. It had no identification in it.
“I realized that my prayer for a blessing was answered. I came here first to count the money. There was plenty so I ordered this meal and paid back my tab for times that Caramel and Fangrin have fed me.
“I called you to come share in the blessing. That includes the money for feeding the needy, like you fed me so many times.”
As Constable Crager was urging Red away, he snapped, “All this talk of sharing, but you got none for me!”
Penny turned calm eyes to him and replied, “That is true. You have not shared friendship like these good ponies and others have. What you give is what you get back.”
Reverend Smallflower observed, “I see that you have kept a goodly portion for your own use, Penny. If I may make so bold, what use will you make of it?”
Penny gave Peanut Brittle a small hug. “Peanut told me how much help the goats in the Assembly’s congregation were in helping her to find and fix up a good place. I think that I have enough for rent at least for this winter. I should have enough for a good Foal Bowl for this Nightmare Night too.
“That will let me honor the Night Mare and share even more goodness.”