. . .
. . .
“Ahem.” Black cleared his throat.
“Since Mrs Wavers sees potential in you, she tried her best and used most of her connections to find a decent place for your future growth.”
That already sounds quite awkward and overwhelming.
“First of all. Of course you can refuse her offer and stay here. Mrs Wavers isn't forcing you to leave and you should keep that in mind before deciding on other options.”
“Understood..”
As if anypony could just refuse an offer from somepony as influential as Mrs Wavers.
“Second. One of her partners offers you a place in a Magic School in the Crystal Empire. After that you will be able to apply to their university and get a job in the Crystal Empire’s government. Only if you study hard and manage to pass every exam with the highest grades, of course.”
Oh. Oh? Wow. That sounds crazy! Potential and all, but what strings did Mrs Wavers have to pull for this?! I’m not even that smart!
I heard Mom expectedly gasping in anticipation from behind me.
“Did you hear that?! Our Rettie can become a big shot!”
Yep, as expected. But…
“Uh, next?”
Black nodded.
“Third. A few of her dearest long-term partners…”
Oh dear Luna. If one of her regular partners almost literally offered me a place in Crystal Empire's government, what several of her “dearest long-term” partners could offer?! Become a new Princess?!
I froze in nervous anticipation.
“... offer you a special programme at Celestia's school, which-”
Well, close enough.
“Next.”
Celestia just looks way too scary. I have no idea how other ponies can love a princess, whose first thought of saving her own sister was to send her to the moon for a thousand years with no way of bringing her back!
Everypony except Black gasped and gave me a shocked look.
“Well, Mrs Wavers saw this coming, but I had to try.”
Wait, did she?
“And she instructed me to tell you “Yes, I did.” after that.”
Okay, that’s creepy. Another scary pony on my list.
“And “There’s nothing to be scared of, it’s just simple logic.”.”
I felt my eye twitch.
“Please stop, it scares the hay out of me.”
It really does! Like, how?! She’s not even here and gave him those instructions Celestia knows when!
Black let out a heavy sigh.
“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t know either.”
He looked a little scared too. Seems like it’s quite hard to work with Mrs Wavers. No wonder she has such connections!
“Ahem. Back to topic. Fourth. You can become Mrs Wavers personal student and her right hand in the future.”
Not gonna lie, after all the stuff that happened here seconds ago, this option sounds even scarier than all the previous ones at once. Maybe becoming a princess isn’t such a big deal and I should change my mind on it?
I felt like Black was fighting the urge to shake his head on this one as he was looking at me.
Mr Wavers must be a truly terrifying pony.
“Uh. Are there any other options left?”
I simply can’t give up on such possibilities! But the Crystal Empire is just way too far away from here. And other two options just look way too insane for a little filly like me!
How did Twilight even manage such stress?!
On the other hoof, it would be cool to have a personal dragon...
Black exhaled in relief. Seems like that option was scary for him too. Or he was just afraid of losing his place, who knows.
“Yes. There is the last one. You can…”
Everypony seemed to be straining their ears.
I could say that not only my ears got strained, as each next choice was getting scarier and scarier.
“...just grab your stuff and go off travelling to find your very own unique path in life!”
Black swung his front leg, drawing a line on the horizon.
“Uh. Huh? Could you repeat, please? I’m not so sure I heard you right?”
“You can grab your stuff and go off travelling to find your very own unique path in life!”
He swung his leg in the same getsure again.
What if..
“Uh? What again?”
“I’m pretty sure you heard me right this time, Miss Rettie.”
He grinned at me scarily. Won’t work. Okay. Got it.
“Uhh, that's a tough choice…”
Everypony around seemed to agree.
“How much time do I have to choose?”
It would take me at least a week to decide for sure…
“About a half hour.”
I choked.
“You want me to make such a difficult decision in half an hour?!”
“Not me, Miss. Mrs Wavers does.”
Oh Luna…
. . .
I spent the next twenty minutes discussing my future with my parents.
At the same time Mr Wavers was questioning Black quite loudly about what it all means and when Mrs Wavers had planned all this and why he didn’t know a thing, to which Black could only shrug his wings.
Or very well pretended so, because I remember him "sharing a secret” with me earlier about a new maid coming and Mrs Wavers support. Who could have known that her “support” would be that big?
Long story short, other ponies' opinions didn't help me but only confused me even more.
Mom wanted me to stay, but voted for Crystal Empire because it's the safest and prestigious option.
Even If I’ll feel quite lonely there, as they won't be able to leave the mansion to visit me.
Dad tried to cheer me up and told me that I can handle Celestia’s school with no problem.
But he can’t understand my worries about Celestia. Also, not everypony is as lucky and talented as Twilight to make it all the way through.
Mr Wavers obviously voted for becoming Mrs Wavers personal student. I mean, that’s a great choice. It will allow me to both: keep seeing my parents and live here, keep serving the Wavers’ family and become rich and influential.
Even though she seems to be a truly terrifying pony.
Black didn’t vote for anything, but after our little talk under the stars I knew what he’d vote for.
So at the end of the day my future lies in my own hooves.
That's supposed to sound motivating, but when it comes to moments when your actions really matter - it sucks.
I went to the bathroom and washed my face with magically cooled water to calm down a little.
The magic crystals installed in the bathrooms are a real blessing, wish our last house had them.
After calming down a bit, I went back to thinking.
Celestia's School. I crossed it immediately, but maybe I'm too judgmental towards her? Mrs Wavers should've worked hard to get this offer after all.
On the other hoof, Black said that she saw me refusing it, so maybe I really shouldn’t think too much about it.
“Equestria has enough princesses already. And it seems to be quite a dangerous job, so nah.”
I don’t know why I’m so sure that I'll become a princess if I ever get close to Celestia, but I have to move on so I’ll just cross that option and forget about it.
Staying at home is fine, but it’s a coward's choice and I will take it only if the rest will be way too scary. And since I already have a safe Crystal Empire choice - I have to cross it too.
Crystal Empire sounds like a great choice. But at the same time it’s just so far away that it scares me. Even though I would love to see a crystal pony. But I don’t think that’s a good reason to move to another culture, where I don’t know anypony, for pretty much the rest of my life. I have to cross it too.
Mrs Wavers… As I said, even if she scares me, she is a perfect choice for balancing all my needs. As if other choices were supposed to make me choose her. But my gut and Black’s reaction tells me that I really shouldn’t choose this way. Cross.
So, there’s only two choices left. Stay here and lose my potential that everyone is talking about lately, or to…
“Travel on my own?”
But where would I go then? What might await me there? Will I be able to go back home if I change my mind? Not being able to answer these questions was scaring me to my very core.
Even the cold of the water I washed my face with couldn't compete with the cold that fear of the unknown brings with it.
Not only does it feel colder than anything I've ever felt before, but it also slowly creeps into such depths of my soul that even I wasn't aware of.
But next to this cold fear I felt… hope? Warm, yet so shy and fragile.
Its size was nothing compared to fear, yet I could feel it more clearly. As if it were an essential part of me. As if it had always been here waiting.
As if this fear was just a bright and aggressive stain that can't do any harm, but will keep growing until it paints every corner of my soul with its cold colours, leaving no way for anypony to reach me.
When hope was more like a firefly. Small enough to go unnoticed, but capable of lighting my way if I cared enough to make it stronger.
But for now it was too small and weak to pull me out of the claws of this fear.
So I just stood there, staring at my own wet face in the mirror, panting, ready to burst into tears at any moment.
Seeing myself in such a state sparked something new in me.
Something wild and untamed. Something scorching me from within. Overwhelming and ready to burn to ashes both hope and fear. Is it anger? A desire to break free? A mixture of the two or something else entirely? I wanted to know. I needed to know.
If there was anypony who could help me find the answer, it was him.
Thanking my old habit of taking my saddlebags with me wherever I go, I pulled out my great-grandpa notes.
“Chapter four.”
The journey.
. . .
A few minutes later, with a broad smile on my face, I walked back into the room where everyone was waiting for my decision.
“I see you've made up your mind,Miss Rettie.”
Black smiled at me.
“Yes, I have.”
My voice cracked a little. No wonder, after the storm of emotions I went through a few minutes ago.
"And that being..."
He hurried me a little, helping me let the words out of my head.
“I’m going to travel on my own.”
Everypony looked shocked and ready to make a fuss, only Black nodded at me with a sigh of relief.
“I will go and tell Mrs Wavers your decision. Well done, Miss Rettie.”
He barely had time to finish his sentence and turn to leave the room before it got filled with worried, dissenting voices.
I couldn't help myself but giggle at them.
. . .
The night went surprisingly quiet. The next morning Black notified me that I was no longer a Wawers’ family maid and I had to leave within the next few days.
To his surprise, I already packed my stuff in and was ready to go. Even if most of that “stuff” was books. I had to leave most of them here, otherwise I’d turn into a moving library. Mr Wavers surely won’t like that but there’s not much I can do about it.
It was sad to have to leave my favourite blue bowtie here though, but it was the Wavers' maids bowtie so I can't do much about this either.
“Where do you even get this energy from…”
He shook his head.
"Are you planning to set off today, Miss Rettie?"
“Yeah! Gonna check if I got everything I need and hit the road!”
“I see.”
Maybe I'm just hearing things, but there was a note of sadness in his voice.
“I won’t be able to see you off, so I will say it now. Good luck on your journey and keep yourself safe, Rettie.”
With that, he bowed and hurried off.
Not even “Miss” this time, huh?
. . .
An hour later I was standing at the exit of Waver’s mansion.
I still wasn’t sure if I made the right decision. But I already made it, so I tried my best to not think about it.
I checked my brand new saddlebags once again before leaving.
I got some money from my parents this morning and finally got my first and last salary for working here. With money I’ve saved up I now have a whopping one thousand eight hundred bits on me! I surely will be able to live a carefree life for a month or two now! As long as I won't get tricked - I’ll be more than fine!
Black’s cape for cold nights. I also took the cap and sunglasses so he won’t be mad at me for leaving them here.
The “Best Tricks For Beginner Illusionists!” book I've been reading lately has been replaced with a new “Illusionists’ Hoofbook” which was in bundle of books Mr Wavers gave me. I've also taken “Basics of Magic” and “Twilight’s Magic Guide”, as I've been struggling with my very little knowledge of magic lately.
A set of pens and pencils and a notepad for notes. Learning is easier when you take notes.
Of course I couldn’t leave Mountainhoofs’ notes. This book has become my best friend now.
I'll buy the rest of the stuff I need in the next town I come to. As for now…
I turned back to my yet again tearful Mum, Dad and Mr Wavers.
Uh, this is gonna be even harder than I thought.
What am I even supposed to say? “I’m off, see you later!”? Oh Luna, I hadn't planned this far!
I'm getting even more nervous now, trying to find the right words that won't hurt my family.
It seems that my panic was too obvious, so Dad decided to help me out.
“Don’t worry about us Sweetie, it's your life and your decision after all! If Mrs Wavers believes it's a good idea, why should we doubt it? You will be fine and always welcome here!”
Not the best words in the world but quite impressive for improvisation and they had their effect.
“I have to admit that Mr Maregolds is right. My Darling would never offer you anything you couldn’t handle. Maybe that's the best choice you could make, so believe in yourself a little more, young lady.”
Mom tried to also say something encouraging too, I believe, but just burst into tears again.
“You… Thank you all!”
I bowed deeply.
“I’m off then!”
I put my saddlebags on and turned to leave before I had to think of any more fancy words to say goodbye.
As I was leaving, I heard words of encouragement from behind me. At that moment, I decided that I won't let myself or them down and that I will become… whatever I’m going to become. A decent mare at the very least, I guess?
. . .
I sat at the exit of the mansion as I was seeing my only daughter off and trying to comfort my beloved.
I still had complicated feelings, but I couldn’t let them out yet. Not now. At the very least I’m sure that Mrs Wavers will keep pulling her strings to look after Rettie, even when she will be far away.
As I was thinking these thoughts, I noticed Rettie’s flank glowing. It seems like my girl finally got her cutiemark. It made me smile and gave me even more confidence that everything's going to be alright.
But I still had one question bothering me.
I turned my head towards Mr Wavers.
“So, was that your plan all along?”
He gave me a surprised look.
“What do you mean?”
Oh, don't play dumb, you old sly.
“Wasn’t it your plan to send her to clean the library, slip her this book and send her off? It all went suspiciously smoothly, didn't it?”
He looked genuinely surprised now. What an actor.
“My plan was for her to give up a few days later and I'd send her back to school, because she clearly wasn’t ready for this job! I thought you were the one who slipped her that book!”
Now we both were shocked. Was it really a coincidence then?..
. . .
I stood next to Mrs Wavers, watching Rettie leave from behind the window.
“Don’t tell me that you are still worried about her, Black. Or maybe you're jealous of her, mm?”
As usual, she sees through me.
Her sonorous laugh filled the room.
“A-ha-ha! You never change!”
I hate to admit but she was right.
“But still, are you sure it was a good idea to let her go so soon?”
“I was actually planning to let her go a month later! But she definitely exceeded my expectations!”
She giggled, and I couldn't help but turn my head at the sound of her flowery, joyful voice. Big mistake. My heart immediately tightened with admiration as I saw her green curls bobbing and glistening in the sunlight. I felt my cheeks burning and turned my head back to the window the same second. It will definitely take some time to calm down now.
“But that’s okay! She fits the good old Mountainhoof’s description, and the book responds to her magic! We can be sure she will be fine! What could possibly happen? A timberwolf attack? That would be so silly!
Another wave of her laughter. This time I managed to resist its charm.
So that’s one more thing off our family list! Now all we have to do is wait for my Cinnamon Bun to grow up and we will be done!”
Which basically means the dawn of the Wavers’ family. It was getting smaller and smaller with each generation, so it should have happened sooner or later, but it didn't make me feel better.
"Oh, look!"
I looked where Mrs Wavers was pointing: there was a glow coming from Rettie's flanks.
"Looks like she's finally got her cutiemark and doesn't even realise it! What a silly filly!"
Sweet. Well, that calms me down a little. I let out a sigh of relief. She should be fine now.
. . .
When I finally couldn’t see the Wavers' mansion I exhaled in relief.
“It really was harder than I expected, even though I rushed through it.”
I pulled a pen and Mountainhoof’s notes out of my saddlebag.
That is a perfect moment.
“Chapter four”
Your journey begins ____.
I put pen to paper and finished the sentence.
Your journey begins here.
I smiled. It really felt as if Mountainhoof was standing next to me right now, saying those words to me.
“Thanks, Grandpa!”
I giggled at how silly it felt to be talking to myself and put the pen and notes back in my saddlebags.
“Alright, let’s go!”
. . .
. . .