//------------------------------//
// 24 - So it is Written 
// Story: Blueblooded Bluebell 
// by David Silver 
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With a glowing horn, Raven set down the last sheet of paper in a stack. "Here they are, as Princess Luna commanded. She had quite the exhaustive list of requirements."

Fire slapped her hoof down on the pile, drawing it towards herself in a bit of a mess as papers slid against paper, but she managed it. "Let's see what you have here."

Blue was opposite her, nodding at Raven. "I do appreciate you taking the time. I imagine Auntie has many other tasks waiting for you."

"She does." Raven smiled though, looking more pleased than anything else. "It's what I'm here for."

Blue felt a twinge of jealousy. There. That was a servant that reveled in their position and took such enormous pride in it. Would she inspire such things in her own servants, given time? "She is lucky to have you."

"Would you like a copy?" Raven's glowing horn started to draw out fresh sheets. "I brought two sets."

"You really do think of everything." Blue took the second set in her magic and held it up before her eyes. "Let's see..."

It started with the basics, a perfectly standard agreement for a servant and employer, with terms of termination for both sides. Though there was a twist there, namely that she couldn't just put in her two weeks and walk away after that. In the event of such an end of the deal, she was to be returned to Luna, and only with her acceptance would the agreement come to a proper end.

"This was Luna's request, I do assume?" She pointed at that clause and turned the paper so Raven could see.

"Oh, yes, she was very specific." She nodded firmly. "Any objection?"

"I see it works both ways." She couldn't just 'fire' Miss Paradox, such a thing only binding in the presence of Luna. "Sensible." If a bit overcautious...

"You're kidding me." Blue looked up to see a most sour face on Fire. "I have to ask before I cast anything? You'll unbind my hoof just to make me ask a question before each step?"

Blue's brows fell together. "I would not appreciate that." She liked using the spells she had learned! "Miss Inkwell, might you add a clause that allows uses of spells to be generally permitted? I have little desire to be asked repeatedly for the same thing."

Raven was still a moment before a slow nod came. "It would have to be limited in scope to a specific target and spell."

Blue snorted at the idea. "So if she has a cooking spell, I have to authorize every dish?"

"Please see page 4, paragraph 6." She was calm and stoic, unphased by Blue's irritation.

Blue flipped on quickly to the fourth page, eyes darting down to the named paragraph. "Mmm..." It was a reformation decree, noting the process by which her servant could be considered redeemed and some rather specific steps required for each part of the way and the privileges granted with each.

However, magic was largely constrained until the very end. "Is her magic really that worrisome?"

"That was Princess Luna's specific request." Raven nodded with steadfast confidence. "I was informed that the first party, Fire Paradox, is most likely to cause mischief through use of magic."

Fire Paradox sank to her haunches. "She's not wrong, exactly. I still hate it." She leveled a cloven hoof at Raven. "How am I supposed to serve my mistress properly if I have to keep bothering her?"

"Too right." Despite that, Blue went on to reading other parts. "See Changeling Provisions?"

"Penned into law recently." Raven inclined her head. "It covers potential identity theft issues when a citizen can assume the appearance, voice, and even smell of another. As the name implies, changelings inspired the thought."

Fire crossed her arms over her chest. "You aren't letting me have even a little fun!"

Blue set down the packet of papers. "What you have prepared is very safe and thorough."

Raven nodded. "Of course."

"And cruel and entirely lacking in even a scrap of trust." Blue shook her head with a low sigh. "How can we expect her to grow if we can't even begin with some amount of trust, even if it's enough for her to show her true colors?"

"Red." Fire smirked with triumph. "My true color is red. Not much hiding that right now."

"Hush, dear. I'm arguing on your behalf." Blue kept her eyes on Raven. "Besides, more of a burgundy."

Raven looked to Fire Paradox. "Correct me if I am wrong, but you have the magic to, without restraint, cause a great deal of trouble."

"So does she." Fire pointed at Blue deflectingly. "I don't see her with a bunch of rules shackling her in place."

"Her chains are less visible, but arguably even more solid." Raven nodded at Blue. "Decorum has many demands of her and how she uses her abilities. Decorum, I am told, is not something you feel particular allegiance to."

Blue's eyes widened a little as she stood up. "Are we to start with the assumption that Fire Paradox knows not a thing of common courtesy then?"

Fire sank to her belly with a little sigh. "They aren't completely wrong, only mostly. It's not like I don't know what you would prefer I did most of the time..."

"Raven?" There was Celestia, poking her large head into the small room. "There you are. Miss Inkwell..." She paused, taking measure of the situation. "Am I interrupting?"

Raven inclined her head just enough to gesture her horn at the sheets of paper the other two were looking through. "Your sister, Princess Luna, requested I draft the agreement between these two parties." She lifted a hoof to point at the two of them, one hoof to each.  "An interesting proposition, considering the abilities of the first party."

"I can easily imagine." Celestia stepped inside, regarding Blue and Fire. "Fire Paradox." The demon stiffened. "Can your kind truly not break such a deal? It is, in the end, a promise."

"Promises made between souls," spat out Fire, peering at Celestia oddly. "It's not the same as the idle drivel anyone can let tumble out of their lips. Sealed in blood, bound in spirit. This is a 'promise' you don't break. Until death do you part." She inclined her head. "Sometimes longer, I've heard of those."

"Then to accept this is to accept a surrender of yourself." Her large horn began to glow, collecting the papers that had been in Blue's arcane grip, but Blue did not contest it. "I can only imagine you usually prefer to have them agreed upon by those who don't know better."

Fire's teeth set. That was true, but she didn't have to admit it! "Bluey signed one pact with me and didn't die, or even get hurt." Her heart-tipped tail began to sway behind her. "I'm not that bad."

"Fire Paradox has rendered services quite faithfully," defended Blue with a huff. "Auntie, I do need to finish reviewing that."

"Of course." She lowered it and allowed it to be taken, moving from one magical grip to the next. "I thought I heard arguing?"

Blue tensed faintly. Of course Auntie had heard. She had been playing. "The terms are quite... firm." She raised a hoof to tap at the floating paper. "Miss Paradox is essentially forbidden from using any magic without my permission beforehoof."

"I once released a spirit of chaos, who tormented the land, and me, for quite a time. I allowed him some measure of freedom, in the care of one I trusted." She regarded Blue critically a moment, a smile slowly forming. "While the trust I feel is not the same variety..."

Blue sat up tall. "I accept this responsibility, Auntie dear. They are my servant and their actions reflect on me."

"Never forget that, but also remember that you are just as vulnerable to being harmed in this." She set a hoof on Blue's shoulder. "Are you certain you accept this?"

Fire looked between the two. Were things really going to work out that well?! She dared not utter a word.

"Miss Paradox is a valued servant. I value her services. I value her insight. I promised to show her how to be a proper lady, and she can't be that if she is chained to the floor while I do it." She clopped a hoof down firmly. "To grow, one must have the room to make mistakes, Auntie."

"This is unfortunately true." Celestia looked to Raven. "If you would, amend it so that she may use magic... but only when she is sure she is acting for the best interest of those around her."

Raven made a little noise as she gathered up both copies of the contract and a typewriter, getting on the needed revisions. "Before I finish, are there other matters I should see to?"

Blue inclined her head at that. "I didn't get to finish reviewing, I'm afraid."

"That goes for me too." Fire rolled her eyes. "Still, progress."

"Yes, quite, progress." The two shared a nod, unified in that thought. "Hiring a servant was never promised to be a simple or rapid thing, but let's do it right."

Celestia turned to leave. "Miss Inkwell, I imagine you will be quite busy for a time. Go and relax when you are done."

"I can't do that, ma'am." Raven was typing busily, hooves bouncing between the two keys that made it up. "You know you have several appointments today, and I will not be absent for them."

"You are too diligent." Celestia could but smile at one of her faithful subjects. "Don't work yourself to injury." But she knew better than to argue it further, leaving quietly.

"While we're negotiating." Fire was glaring at the pages being typed. "How about, besides putting more rules on how I shapeshift, letting me shapeshift at all! I saw that line."

Blue blinked, but the page was not there for her to review. "I didn't arrive at it. What did it say?"

"It said I could only change after reaching 'stage 3 of reformation'." Fire rolled her eyes dramatically. "That's not even fair."

"Your appearance is not that bad. Why are you so eager to change it?" Sure, the demon wasn't what Blue Belle would have desired, but... as objectively as she could try, there wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, she thought.

"Didn't I tell you." She stormed up on her employer. "I am... exposed. I could be hurt," she squeaked, admitting fear in her voice. "I thought you cared about your servants!"

"And I do!" Blue raised a hoof to her chest with an affronted expression. "If a pony were so boorish as to belittle a servant of mine, they have stern words coming!"

"You don't get it." Fire shook her head slowly, sighing with mounting frustration. "It hurts. Not 'Oh no, the bad pony hurt my feelings' hurt, but 'This pony is unraveling what I am and I am dying' hurts." She thumped Blue in the chest suddenly. "This is like asking me to be alright with someone stabbing me. It'll only be a little jab, and you'll be really angry with them, so it's alright!"

Blue regarded her would-be employee. "This is that important to you?"

"Yes!" She threw up a hoof. "All the yes. I can't say yes strongly enough." She leaned in, face close to Blue's as she heaved for breath. "I know you. You'll be busy. I get it, whatever, but it means you will not be there when a random prick of a pony decides to attack me!"

"Language." She tapped the ground, head held high. Propriety was not something to forget. "This aside." He turned to Raven Inkwell. "Surely if she had one other form, the one she and I both know well, that shouldn't be too much to ask for? I admit, I was a little used to it, but there is nothing wrong with this either." She waved a hoof over Fire's true form. "I think it's, what's the term... It's 'metal', yes. I never did quite understand the meaning of that."

Fire burst into light laughter. "Don't use terms you don't know." Not that she looked offended by it. At least some ponies were more ignorant than her of modern conventions. "Yeah, let me go back to that."

Raven glanced between the two. "If you are in agreement, a single specific form shouldn't cause too much undue harm." The typing resumed busily. "I was given to believe that this was a conflicted arrangement between the two parties. You seem to be on the same side."

Blue huffed at that. "She is my servant and a valued one at that. Starting that on a confrontational footing seems counter productive, and rude."

"Too innocent for words." Fire settled, tail swaying more like a cat's than a pony's as she watched Raven type. "We're on the same side, don't you see?"

Raven drew the paper free with her magic and soon had a copy for either to review. "If it is to your pleasure?"





"And so I secured my first official member of my retinue, with the blessings of both of my dear aunts." Blue gestured grandly at the grinning red earth pony beside her. "Say hello to Fire Paradox."

"Hey."

Fancy inclined his head thoughtfully. "Good day, Miss Paradox. I am Fancy Pants. I do hope you will forgive the saying, but I do know of your... troubled past."

Fire scowled at him. "I didn't forget you were there. But you said she was innocent."

"I did." Fancy nodded softly. "But that doesn't mean you are, madame."

Blue puffed up, cheeks swelling. "Fancy! Treat Fire with respect, kindly."

"I don't mean to be rude." He dipped his head lightly. "It is just that I am very protective of Miss Belle, and would not see the Baroness hurt, even on account of her charitable heart."

Blue began to color at that. "Fancy!" She hadn't asked for a shining knight to protect her, and yet the thought of having one tickled. She was in a confused place. "Be that as it may, she is my servant, and I will not have my retinue insulted. If she misbehaves, you are to inform me." She tapped herself on the chest. "And I will act promptly, as is appropriate."

"Of course," he deferred to her. "Welcome, Miss Paradox. Have you met my--"

"Non!" There was Fleur, eyes on Fire with clear attention. "What an interesting pony you are. I feel there is yet more behind you, especially from the way my brother is speaking of you, oui?"

"Je peux parler français aussi. Bonjour, jolie jument." Fire smiled at Fluer, the exotic tongue stumbling out of her as if she were a native speaker. "J'espère que nous pourrons parler plus souvent."

Blue blinked softly, looking between the two as they began speaking animatedly at one another, having a merry conversation that neither she nor Fancy could discern. "I thought that was just a made up language she enjoyed using."

Fancy chuckled as he slid in beside Blue. "Prench? No, a true language. I can't say how Fleur learned it, just came naturally, but there is an entire kingdom of ponies that speak it besides her. I didn't expect your servant to be one of the ones that used it, I confess."

"She is a mare of many talents." Blue coughed into a hoof. "I don't mean to interrupt." That was exactly what she had just done, both looking towards her. "But only you two understand one another."

Fleur cradled her chin between two hooves, fluttering her lashes. "Never before have you complained of it, petite soeur. Still, you are not wrong, I am being très impoli." She blew a kiss at Fire. "We will speak later, d'accord?" Fleur trotted away, looking quite happy with the world.

Fire returned to Blue's side. "She's a nice one."

"I am glad you two are getting along." Already her servant had made one upper class friend. Success! "If you allow her, she will introduce you to others of upper standing, and she will admonish you when you miss-step. She is my older sister, and she's good at the job."

"She seems like she'd be a more fun teacher than Luna. Don't tell her I said that." She pantomimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key.

Fancy nodded softly. "A little gossip is only fun when kept between understanding parties." He had half an eye on Fire, keeping tabs on her. "So, you wish to enter proper society then?"

"That is the idea." Fire flicked her heart-tipped tail, even of the rest of it was back to being more hairy like a pony, instead of naked. "I hear you're quite the mover and shaker in those circles."

Fancy colored faintly, more out of proper embarrassment at being complimented. "They say many things. I'm no pony special." He waved the idea away. "I just try to do what is proper."

"He's the definition of a pony everypony must know." Blue leaned against her good friend, pride swelling. "There's hardly a social affair he couldn't navigate without a thought."

"On that you are wrong." Fancy held up a hoof. "It is with an abundance of thought that one navigates troubled waters. To avoid mistakes, one must be ever mindful of one's actions and how they reflect, on oneself and what one represents."

"What did I tell you?" crooned Blue, looking ready to dance in place with her swollen pride for her chosen stallion. "He even gets top ranks for humility!"

Fancy coughed awkwardly. "You're going too far. I needn't be so praised. Now, uh..." He nodded towards Fire Paradox. "The baroness clearly thinks well of you. I will try to have an open mind and give you a chance to reveal why that is." He offered a hoof towards her. "To a fruitful friendship?"

Fire grew a slow smile. "Isn't it typical that kinda thing is done over a drink?"

"Oh, too right." His hoof lowered and soon glasses approached, filled with a dark liquor. "A proper toast, a fine idea." He gave a glass to Blue, allowing her to take it in her magic, but then hesitated. "Madame? I confess, my experience with earth ponies is not as deep as my knowledge of unicorns. I know how Saddle Arabians receive theirs. Is it similar to that?"

Fire inclined her head. "If they haven't changed the way they do it in a few hundred moons, yeah, that'll do." The glass settled just in front of her for her to dip her snout into and sip from. "Mmm, good stuff. Here's to new starts."

"To new friends," echoed Fancy.

"To new chances." Blue tinked her glass against Fancy's, only for another glass to raise up and join in.

Fire had her magic back, which she showed off with a grin before setting her glass back down. "That's not a spell," she taunted. "I'm allowed to use it!"

"Clever." Belle drained her glass in one long pull. "I see nothing wrong with that."

Fancy inclined his head. "You are not allowed to cast spells? I admit, that would do little to me. I know a precious few spells to begin with." He gestured to Belle. "Unlike our talented baroness. She's learned quite a number of them, at such a speed."

"With the help of my teacher." Belle waved towards Fire with a big smile. "Best tutor I ever had, even in the moments I found to be quite trying."

"That's when you were learning the most." Fire left her cup, mostly drained, and approached Fancy with a smile. "Now, I hear, you are quite the stallion."

"My status along those lines are not appropriate for this company," he assured, unruffled. "Thank you for helping Blue Belle come into herself."

"Sure... sure." Fire aborted her attack, considering Fancy, unsure of what she had actually wanted, or planned to do next. Life had been simpler, if more miserable, in the bowels of the abyss. "You learn anything about what I am?"

"I admit I had not explored it." He raised a hoof to adjust his monocle. "I suppose I am given a reason to do so now. You look different."

"Noticed, huh?" She was more pony and less demon by far in her hidden form. "Like it?" She turned partway, displaying her body to the stallion.

But he was looking to Blue. "I must admit. Being in your employ, I thought she'd be dressed far more grandly." Not being dressed at all, Fire had certainly failed that measure.

Blue looked contemplative. "Fleur! We need to go on a shopping trip. Your new friend will be along. We'll dress her up something fierce."

"Oui!" came from another room entirely, the support of Fleur secured without effort.

Fire grit her teeth, taking a step back. "The deal didn't say I have to wear whatever you say I do."

"Of course not." Blue waved it away, a gentle smile on her face. "You'll like what we offer and trot out of the store looking like a million bits. Fancy Pants is correct, clothing can really make the pony, and if you want to navigate upper class, you must look the part." She clopped her hooves together. "No more excuses. Besides, Fleur will be there, and you do like her, do you not?"

"She seemed nice enough," Fire tepidly agreed, running one fetlock over the opposing leg. "But I get the last call."

"Of course," practically sang out Blue. "There will be nothing in our shopping bags that you did not want, well, unless I find something for myself while we're there." She chortled, mind filled with thoughts of tripping over an especially pleasing hat or dress. "It'll be fun, stop worrying about it. Besides, I'll be paying for it. This is your uniform, as I request, so it is only proper it be a part of my finances, not yours."

"Well, if you're covering it..." It meant she was getting something for nothing. That was the best price to get something! "Let's see what you ponies have." Her eyes drifted over Blue. "It looks fine enough on you, but I don't want frilly."

"That's half the fun," sighed out Blue, her dreams of a nice and frilly Fire ruined. "But at least try it first. We'll find something you like, I feel certain!"

"It is easy to forget." Both mares looked to Fancy. "But Blue Belle here has shopped for other styles before. Show your employer a little trust and she will not lead you astray."

"A little trust." Not her instinctual desire or inclination, still... "Better be good, or I won't take it." She sat on her haunches and crossed her arms, looking more like a pouting filly than a terrifying demon.

"And..." Belle walked past Fire, close enough to brush against her on the way. "It'll be a chance to just be out and about, in the city, right alongside an upperclass mare or two. It'll be a valuable lesson or three, mmm?" She turned to Fancy. "By the way, have you met Rarity's sister? She's also named Belle!"

"Belle... Oh, Sweetie Belle." He nodded lightly. "I saw her at the Grand Galloping Gala once. Well behaved and reasonably well spoken for a filly of her age and upbringing. What of her?"

"We are going to meet." Belle struck a pose as if she had managed something grand, instead of a playdate with a foal. "One Belle to another. I hear she takes after her sister in merchantly pursuits."

"She's more of a counselor." Fancy brought over the original bottle, topping off glasses that had been drained. "But I imagine you can have quite the meeting. Do tell me how that goes."

"Of course." Belle sipped from her renewed glass. "How do you find so many interesting flavors? It's like you never drink the same one twice."