//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: MLP G5: Want It Need It // by aceotaku //------------------------------// The first day of the five day long Festival was approaching and so every able bodied pony with time to spare was pitching in, setting up tents, stalls and various other methods through which wares could be sold, games could played and assorted other entertainments could be enjoyed. Horseshoes, being a trainee whose application to join the knights was still under consideration, had been given the task of overseeing everything. Her friend Lickety Split was helping with the design and construction of some attractions, in return for the Union providing him with a new home after it was destroyed during Groger's attack. She REALLY didn't want to remember that time right now. Now was the time to prepare some fun and games...and she was bored out of her MIND. So many people to discuss arrangements with, so many things to inspect and ensure nothing unexpected would happen. It was all just too much for her to take. The only upside was being able to help in construction, which allowed her to do some heavy lifting and build up her muscles, she basically saw it as potential training, which while frustrating at times was still beneficial. She blinked and she and several other ponies, Earth and Pegasus alike, stopped what they were doing and listened to the sound of wooden wheels creaking along. Eventually, a small caravan drove into the main square in front of them and stopped. A brown earth pony, wearing a black coat-tailed jacket, white shirt black pinstriped pants and a large black top hat, sporting a round object with a spiral symbol on it, sitting atop his well-groomed and slicked back dark green mane, stepped down from the driver's seat of the caravan and trotted into the back of his caravan, quickly taking out curtains, support beams and the like, setting up a stage, in front of which was a sign proclaiming 'Professor Zebediah J. Snake Oil's Emporium of Wonder and Delight'. Horseshoes and the rest of the crowd walked over towards the stage, the other Pegasi and Earth Ponies muttering with each other. The well dressed Earth Pony stood upright on his hind legs atop the stage, a crook cane under his left foreleg. He smiled at the crowd and tipped his hat towards them. "Greetings friends, I am Professor Zebediah J. Snake Oil III, and I am here to sell you some wares." Horseshoes tilted her head in puzzlement, but still kept a doubtful look on her face. "Ok, well, sorry but we're not feeling too hospitable right now, the last outsider who visited us caused a real ruckus and we're kinda busy otherwise." Snake Oil nodded, smiling calmly and confidently. "Now, now, just because one foreigner comes in and causes some mayhem doesn't mean that we're all bad. Besides, I was born and raised right in this here very town." "We'll have to look that up later, or at least the knights will, after I inform them." Horseshoes retorted. "Please do, you will find nothing untoward. Besides, I am only here to give y'all a spiel, hopefully interest you in buying something, and then be on my way. If you aren't interested, then I shall be just on my way out, even though all I'm interested in is helping you fine folks with your problems." "How would you intend to do that?" A green Pegasus asked sceptically. "Why I'm glad you asked!" Snake Oil grinned throwing his cane up and catching it as it descended, the cane spinning around in his hoof as up-tempo music began to play along with an old timey piano beat, and then he began to sing. "Now look at all you ponies, Standing around an' workin' hard. Ain't ya all tired? Ain't ya all sore? Ain't ya got some problems? Well if so, I've got the currrreeeee! I have been all over, from the land of the Minotaurs To the Empire of the Griffons And all the places in between And In my travels I did find A magical, all purpose cure all To wash away your cares! And here is what it is!" Suddenly he tapped his cane once against the floor of the stage and a table lined with hundreds of large green bottles rolled onto the stage from the right. "It will cure ya what ails ya! It will give you what you need! It's Professor Snake Oil's All Purpose Cure-All And it is yours today!" "What exactly does it cure?" Horseshoes asked. "That's a very good question!" Snake Oil replied, pointing his cane at the pony in question. "As it says on the bottle It is a Cure-All It will cure everything From depression to chicken pox To dementia and the chills! I have sold it to many Satisfied customers! And while that may not tempt you Perhaps a demonstration is in order!" He took a quick swig from a bottle, and suddenly step backstage and returned while dragging a one ton weight from behind him, which he proceeded to lift up in one hoof with ease, as if it were as light as a feather. "It will make ya strong! It will make you healthy! It will make you happy! And me, I'll be wealthy." He whispered under his breath, facing away from the audience before turning back and continuing. "It'll cure ya what ails ya! It'll give you what you need! It's Professor Snake Oil's Magical Cure-All! And it will be yours, Satisfaction guaranteed!" The other ponies started to nod along to the music, murmuring with each excitedly while Horseshoes tried to remain sceptical. "Where exactly did you get this 'Cure-All'?" She asked. Snake Oil Smiled as he danced along. "Another excellent question!" "It was during my travels That I came upon Some very special flowers Some local Minotaurs, were kind enough give me Their secret family recipe that made this wondrous elixir! And I regret I cannot tell you What is in said recipe What I can explain, iiiiiis It will cure what ails ya!" The other ponies began to sing along. It will give you what you need! It's Professor Zebediah J. Snake Oil III's Magical, all purpose, strength enhancing Courage inducing, bliss making, baby making, cold reducing Wonderful! Astounding! Incredibllllle! Cure allllll! And it is yours for free!" The ponies gasped in surprise at this. "F-FREEE!?" He nodded before shrugging and giving a bemused smirk. "Well, to be fair, what I mean is the first SAMPLE is free, so y'all only get one bottle today, to try it out yourself. And by golly, if you don't come here tomorrow morning, ready to buy more, I'll eat my own hat and shave my hair!" he chuckled at this. "I-I don't know everyone..." Horseshoes said. "It's too good to be true..." "Healthy scepticism is only perfectly reasonable." Snake Oil said. "But surely you have some problem, something you want cured, some task you want to achieve but can't due to whatever reason. So tell me...what ails ya?" he leaned in, grinning wide. She gulped, looking around. "I-I...I wanna be stronger so I can join the knights..." "A fine dream that is!" He stated excitedly. "Very ambitious! Now, all of you, tell me what your problems are!" "My joints hurt when i walk!" "I-I want a guy I like to look at me!" "I am having trouble seeing things properly." "I'm colour blind!" "I sprained my hoof!" He slowly gestured his hooves downwards and quietened down the chorus of ponies stating their problems. "Those are all terrible, terrible afflictions, but do not worry, when I say it is a cure all, I mean it will cure ALL. Physical problems, mental problems, injuries, illnesses, even things that you don't think could be cured, will be so! Just take a free bottle and drink up!" He threw a bottle at each pony, each one grabbing a bottle with either their hooves, within the sides of both forelegs or their mouths. Horseshoes grabbed one, looking at it carefully. "If this really can cure all..." She thought to herself. "Then maybe...maybe it can help me become a knight..." She gulped and after a short pause, shrugged and took a swig, licking her lips, and then suddenly downing the whole thing all at once. Her body felt stronger, her mind felt faster, she felt like she could do ANYTHING. She felt GOOD. Around her, several other ponies grinned wide, eyes wide with energy, each one holding a now empty bottle. Snake Oil smiled. "Now...would you fine people care to buy some?" Horseshoes and the rest of the crowd eagerly turned to the stallion. "I'll pay anything!" He smirked. "Good...just give me your money, and I'll give you EXACTLY what you need..." He chuckled quietly to himself, still smiling, but the smile and his demeanour in general becoming more predatory. -------------------------------------- Green Acres waited in the sparring field as Horsehsoes walked up, wearing ehr training armour. "So, how are preparations going?" He asked with a smile. "Sorry it's not the most exciting job, but if you want to enjoy the festival, someone has to make sure it actually happens." Horseshoes grinned wide. "Oh yeah it was totally fine! Yep, really not a big deal! Anyway, let's fight!" Green Acres' brow rose at how chipper Horseshoes was, more so than usual at least. He shrugged it off and got ready to spar. Only a few minutes after, he was on the ground, panting. "W-wow! Y-you're a lot faster and tougher than i remember! I guess all this sparring is starting to pay off huh?" Horsehsoes nodded rapidly. "Yeah yeah yeah! So tell me tell me tell me! Am I in am I in am I in?" "That's...not how application works. Sparring is simply to prepare you for examination, to make sure you're in perfect shape to finally join us. I know it can be tedious, but winning a single sparring match isn't going to automatically make you join the knights." Horseshoes frowned and then brightened suddenly. "OH I see I see I just need more of the stuff!" She ran off before he could ask her any questions. "What stuff?" He frowned in concern and puzzlement. ---------------------------------- Razzle Dazzle was outside, writing an essay about magical theory, as per her Master's orders. However, with the festival coming closer and closer, she was growing more nervous. The only spells she knew and could perform adequately were levitation and some spells that Groger taught her, and there was no way she was going to use the spells taught to her by that...monster. She had begged and pleaded with Master Hocus Pocus to teach her more practical spells, particularly combat spells, but he had refused, stating that she was too young and new spells required plenty of practice and learning techniques and magical theories, but there was no way she was going to be able to pass the magical duel/exam with only telekinesis... She tried desperately to ignore the part of her that pointed out that Groger had taught her more in a day than her Master had in over four years... She heard a loud galloping and looked up, seeing Horseshoes gallop as fast as she could, moving past Razzle Dazzle in a blur, the pony speaking rapidly as she sped passed. "HiRazzsorrygottarunneedthestuffseeyalaterhavefun! " She blinked. "The hay?" She slapped herself in admonishment for that uncalled for language. That pony was becoming a bad influence...still, from what she was able to see...she didn't like the look in Horseshoes eyes. She sighed, shaking her head. There was no way Horseshoes was in trouble, and besides, Horseshoes was an adult, and she had her freedom. Razzle sighed and went back to her studies. ------------------------------------ Snake Oil smiled as he accepted the money, giving Horseshoes a bottle of his Cure-All. She eagerly drank it up, dark shadows under her eyes, her eyes looking in awkward directions, her coat a little paler. Snake Oil smirked. "Now, if you manage to get some people interested in buying my Cure-All I'll be sure to give you THREE bottles on the house." "Really!?" She grinned wide. "OH thank you!" "And be sure to keep the knights away, understand?" She nodded enthusiastically and he smirked. "Good, just remember to spread the good word, and all will work out just fine." She grinned and ran out, eager to earn more bottles. Snake Oil chuckled quietly, rubbing his hooves together.