//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Nocturnal Gauntlet // by Scripture //------------------------------// ===== Earlier that day ===== “So, Spare Change…” A angelic voice hit the stallion’s ears and he looked up from his tea, trying not to spill any. He had never been at anything so formal, being only a minor grey-coated businesspony with a frazzly white mane. But being invited by Upper Class and other members of the elite in Equestria was quite an honor! And very lucky. Verrrrrry lucky… “Yes High Note?” The stallion looked across at one side of the table, eyeing the beautiful tawny colored pegasus mare with a sweeping tan-brown mane under her primed up hat. She was quite a popular singer around Canterlot and was taking a small break from the business so she could come up with “new songs”, according to her. More like paying somepony for the songs… “Has anypony told you about The Nocturnal Gauntlet yet?” Suddenly, all conversation from around the table hushed, dying down to a stifling silence. The confused businesspony looked around at the faces of the many others there. Some smiled, others smirked, and quite a few wore disgruntled faces whether in displeasure or disapproval, he didn’t know for certain. What was certain was that this Gauntlet was very influential and well known amongst the group. One of the stallions, a light blue business trader, pointed a hoof at High Note and hissed venomously. “Note! He just joined us for dinner! There is no need to bring up that… business just yet! He is too raw, too young!” High Note simply sipped a bit of her wine that she had ordered for herself, her tail giving a switch twitch in synchronization with her wings. Spare Change didn’t really think much for alchohol, so he had settled on a relaxing herbal tea which had actually received high marks amongst the group oddly enough. He had shrugged it off, but noticed that, later on in the night when the bills came in, his cup of tea had cost him 72 Bits! His wallet had never felt so light before… “Too young? Why, Surplus Bits, I think we need a little more youth in the Gauntlet!” She spread her hooves out wide, bringing about the name of the Gauntlet like it was a bigger deal than Princess Celestia itself. “Face it, we are all only getting older and I believe adding some newer youthful business ponies, like Spare Change here, would be a fantastic idea! Anyways, I here that he has a bit of funds, and most definitely the right business, to be a part of The Gauntlet!” A small murmur ran across the table of elites, making the stallion shake a little in anticipation and worry. Just what in the hay are they talking about?! The funds? Well… I have had a decent surplus of money in the last year, saving up to expand my business… But what can a small time business like EquiTech do? Our last good item was a better sewing machine! Yeah, sales went up a bit but we aren't selling anything big right now! “Well, let’s let him decide!” A booming voice rang out amongst the murmurs and a very classy looking black-coated unicorn with a gray mane stood up, looking out at the circle, and eventually the stallion. Spare Change shrunk a bit at his intense stare, which eventually softened as he spoke in a calmer, gentler tone yet not losing any of its classiness. “I have a business proposition for you, Spare Change…” The stallion in question gulped, plucking up the courage enough to somehow calmly reply in an even tone, “Yes, Upper Class?” The older stallion smirked and fully sat in his seat now, stroking his beard he had bragged about combing and grooming for many years during dinner. Despite being so nervous, all Spare Change could think about was tugging on it to see if it was even real. “How about I donate 500,000 Bits and renovate that dirty shack you call a technology center with the latest tech and machinery?” Spare Change’s jaw dropped uncontrollably, making High Note giggle a little and Upper Class smirk at my expression. Shaking his head a bit, the stallion got his bearings back together and smiled softly, knowing that this was too good to be true. Leaning forward, he put his hooves together and asked softly. “And the catch?” Upper Class’s smile broadened and he leaned forward himself. “Simple. Join us in The Nocturnal Gauntlet and contribute your piece to it using the donations and resources I have given you! Truth be told, we need someone with your kind of business, as many Equestrian’s aren’t yet in the need of new and inspired technology. Your team after all is actually some of the best minds in Equestria! I believe that, with some help, we can get your dinky little business to become one of the biggest things out there!” He reclined back now and casually waved a hand. “Of course, you will be in total charge of your company. I have too many to control of my own at the moment, and I know from your past sales figures that you are definitely an aspiring businesspony in the world. All I am doing is shifting the time tables from a few years to a few weeks with you!” A melodic laugh suddenly rose from the other side of the table and High Note swished her wine around casually, her beautiful wings flared ever so slightly. “Honestly darlings, I can’t tell if it’s the wine or not, but I feel like I should chip in as well! Once you get a decent product done, I will help you advertise it all across the land!” She winked at the stallion, who flushed a little. “What do you say? Spare Change couldn’t believe what he was hearing right now! This was the chance of a lifetime! Not only was he getting a HUGE sum of money to help his business, but he was also getting an advertising deal from a famous star! He mulled over the ideas in his head, wondering what this Nocturnal Gauntlet truly was and how his company could help it but… Wow! 500,000 smackeroos! Yet… Yet something didn’t feel right about this… “All right, first, before I accept anything… you must tell me about this Gauntlet. I am both curious as to what it’s about and what I am going to be doing for it.” A dead silence followed his proclamation and Upper Class looked across at Spare Change, the older stallion’s casual beard stroking ceasing mid way down. The younger stallion started to panic on the inside, wondering if he had blown the best deal in history. Slowly, but carefully, Upper Class smiled mischievously, a slight glint in his brown eyes. “Ahhhh… you are a careful businesspony. A careful, but good businesspony. I like that. I only wish your name was something more like ‘Lotsa Change’ or whatever…” He chuckled, getting up from the table and heading out the door. “Well, we might as well show you. But I do warn you… what you will see never leaves our company. Are we clear?” Spare Change gulped, suddenly knowing he was on thin ice and over hot water. Everything was on edge now and the money deal had suddenly seemed a lot less appealing than before. He was about to open his mouth to reject the offer, when High Note suddenly got up as well, going over to him and literally shoving him out of the chair. “Oh come now silly filly! Let’s get going! Trust me darling, you are going to enjoy what you will see… It’s going to be rather something nice, let me tell you!” Fully out of his chair now and heading towards the exit, High Note smiled and whispered in his ear. “And maybe after, I could show you something rather nice in my home…” The young stallion’s face grew hot as he smelled the traces of alcohol on the pegasus’s breath and her gentle nuzzling with her cheek. Spare Change couldn’t believe his luck! I know she is a bit buzzed but… damn, is she always like this?! But still… so damn sexy! Upper Class chuckled a bit as he saw the two approach, waiting outside of his own personal chariot drawn by six pegasi each. Spare Change whistled lowly, admiring the work of beauty for a second and got in the spacious vehicle along with the other two. He could barely rent a chariot with one pegasus, much less buy one! Just how rich is this guy?! Slowly, we rose into the air and started to travel down the darkened alleys of a nighttime Canterlot in Spring. What had started out as a dumb luck invite to a dinner only the occasional small-time business owner could attend to had evolved into a huge business deal, a mysterious Gauntlet, and a possible romantic night with a famous singer for Spare Change! He knew that this would change his life, no matter what happened on this night. He just hoped it was for the better… _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ "I have learned that the best things in life are given to others. Today, I have given you the Match of the century!" -Upper Class, commentating about the famed Super Six battle A/N: Alright, the second chapter I wrote for this story~ I decided that i will focus solely on Derpy and Spare in this story but by all means I wouldn't consider them the only protagonists in this story. For once I actually have a good string of events lined up for this story to follow and it should evolve quite nicely if i continue it... Anyways, its 6 o clock in the morning, I am tired, and this was just finished a little bit ago XD I am sorry about the length but... more stuff will be revealed next chapter, promise XD If there is any mistakes, please tell me about them! :D Also, comment, rate, etc below~ I always appreciate people commenting :) Oh, and never take 6 hour naps... T_T