Chapter 13: Business Opportunities
Hey dad! Uncle Derek! Hope this letter finds you well and not like in a federal prison. I’m sure by now you guys saw the video of me floating around the net and the FBI or whoever kidnapped me last time I was home has probably talked to you. I’m sure everything’s ok though since Princess Luna scared the crap outta them when she came to rescue me. I’m back in Equestria and totally fine. I was a little sick for a couple days but I’m back to a hundred and ten percent!
I know it’s been a few weeks since you heard from me and I’m sorry I was just a little freaked out I guess. I wanted to come home for Christmas but I guess I was scared they’d try and snatch me again. Pinkie Pie and my friends did a great job putting together as nice a Christmas as they could from what they remembered. Twilight made this big elm tree grow in town square and the ponies decorated it with pretty much everything they could get to stick to the branches. There was all sorts of stuff glued to the poor ‘Christmas’ tree but it was a lot of fun anyway.
We just had Hearth’s Warming here! It’s like pony Christmas but it comes in January instead of December. It was a nice story about how the country was founded and how friendship conquers all or something mushy like that. I kinda phased in and out of the play.
Business is booming at the Stay and Play Daycare! That’s right I officially own and run my own business. Though Twilight Sparkle helps a lot with the financial end of things. I mostly have the foals play board games or work on homework or something. Every Friday I have Twilight make my iPod huge and I play a Disney movie for them. I get tons of pop ins Fridays but I don’t mind, the more the merrier right? I even have a little helper. Her name’s Dinky Doo. She’s super cute and follows me everywhere. Her mom’s not around a lot, she’s crazy busy with work and always off with some weird stallion I see around town now and again. But she helps me make snacks for the other foals and stays after everypony goes home to help me clean up. She’s a great kid.
Cheerilee says I don’t need to go to school anymore, I’ve learned everything I need to learn to be a fully functioning member of Equestrian society. I’m kinda bummed I won’t get to do the whole graduation deal with the rest of the class but I guess it was kinda weird me being like twice their age. It’s kinda nice though, I’m super busy studying magic and working with my sword so the free time is great. I usually drop by the school around lunch time and eat lunch with her. We’ve become pretty good friends. I make little hikes into the Everfree Forest just outside town and she’s started going with me on them. There’s a bit of a taboo among the ponies on going in there but she’s getting over it.
Pinkie Pie’s house was finished not too long after I got back and I’m all moved in. It feels nice to have a place of my own again and not just a guest room in someone else’s house. I’m grateful to the Apple family and they were really great to me while I was staying there but it’s just not the same y’know? Pinkie loves it of course. Now she can throw all the parties she wants and not have to worry about disturbing her land lords. We only have one neighbor, a unicorn named Vinyl Scratch but she doesn’t mind the loud music. Usually she invites herself over when Pinkie’s throwing one of her parties, not that anypony minds. Vinyl’s pretty cool and Pinkie always says anypony’s invited to her parties, the invitations are just formalities.
My magic lessons have been going well. Twilight says I’m showing ‘appropriate progression for a filly my age’ so that’s pretty cool. I can levitate stuff pretty easy now and not make it explode or anything. I’ve learned a couple spells, mostly little ones. Casting a spell is kinda like going over a math problem in your head and as I’m sure you remember I’m not a huge fan of math.
I’m kinda sorta seeing someone now. I know that must seem weird, dating a pony. It’s still a little weird for me too but I dunno Echo’s really nice and really seems to like spending time with me. We just do little things, mostly when I go for my weekend visits at Canterlot. Echo’s a cadet in Princess Luna’s night guard so time off is hard to come by sometimes. I’m taking things really slow though, so don’t worry about that.
Anyway my last bit of news is the biggest. I’m starting flying lessons today! Pinkie’s finally agree to let Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy start teaching me. I can’t wait to sit on a cloud! Pegasus ponies here literally make the weather. Rainbow can jump up and down and make it rain out of the clouds. It’s so cool and I can’t wait to get up in the air.
I don’t know when I’ll be able to come see you guys again. I’ll probably wait awhile before I try again in case those dudes are lurking around wanting to grab me again.
Love always,
Jennifer Allen Pie
Smiling down at the letter on her writing desk Jen gently rolled it up, sealed it with a ribbon and clasping her hand around Discords amulet, split it into two and sent the identical scrolls to their destinations. Dinky was just finishing sweeping the floor and setting the broom back in the corner as Jen came around her desk stretching.
“Payday!”
Jen grinned a bit. “Thursday already huh?” The little filly nodded eagerly and Jen climbed the stairs of her daycare to the second floor. Digging the key to the backroom out of her pocket she unlocked the little broom closet she’d converted into an office and with exaggerated looks back at the filly moved her body to block the safe inside as she twisted the combination. It was a little game she played with Dinky, and the filly obliged with a huff every time.
Business had been good. Despite the enthusiasm at the town meeting not everypony was convinced Jen’s new service was worth spending bits on. That is of course until the first week passed and the only Cutie Mark Crusader related damages came on the weekend when Jen was away at Canterlot. After that nearly every filly and colt was enrolled.
“Know what I think Dinky?”
Her helper perked up. “What?”
“I think we should open YOU up a bank account. You’re not a little filly anymore right? You have a job and everything. Part of growing up is having a bank account.”
Dinky Doo was an intelligent little filly. Certainly more clever and mature than a lot of her classmates, but a somewhat shaky home life has a way of maturing a child. “That’s a good idea! Can we stop by my house and get my piggy bank first?”
Jen shrugged and switched from her unicorn to her earth aspect, scooping the contents of the safe into a heavy canvas bag she kept for the purpose of transferring her funds from the safe to the bank. “Sure I don’t see why not. It’s on the way after all.” With a little grunt of satisfaction she hefted the heavy bag over a shoulder, relocked the office and led the way from the daycare.
By now the human girl had become something of an ordinary sight in the little town. Only drawing surprised looks from out-of-towner's passing through. Being closely associated with Ponyville’s premier party pony had gone a very long way toward the townsponies accepting her as one of them and just about everypony she passed had a smile and a cheerful hello for her, greetings that she happily returned.
She let Dinky take the lead as the energetic little unicorn galloped up to her house. Even working her little legs at full speed Jen had little difficulty keeping pace with her. The filly huffed as she usually did when Jen walked her home. “The door’s locked…again.”
Smiling a little Jen nudged the window open and boosted Dinky through, having to wait only a moment before she came out the front door, a smiling ceramic pig clutched in her periwinkle magical aura. “Got it!”
“Well then let’s roll! I have to meet Rainbow and Fluttershy soon.” Ponyville’s branch of Equestria’s Bank and Loaners was near the center of town. The sturdy square building was purposefully designed to resemble a huge version of the many vaults contained within. Every branch of the bank was magically linked to the other, so anypony could pop in for a quick deposit or withdrawal in whatever city they happened to be in. Each vault was keyed to a pony’s specific magic signature so the door would only open for the owner.
At Twilight’s insistence Jennifer had opened an account after her first week of earnings came in. Her personal agent was an older stallion named Quick’n Loan. There was a short line so she helped Dinky get her bank open to speed the process along once they got to the front.
“Well Ms. Pie! Just the filly I was hoping to run into?”
Filthy Rich’s deep baritone was easy to recognize, and while Jen thought his filly was a bit of a brat the stallion himself had been only congenial in her dealings with him. “Afternoon Mr. Rich. What can I do for you?” She knew he vastly preferred his last name to his first, and made it a point to address him as such. Which always seemed to please him a good deal.
“Well I was wondering if you had time to discuss a bit of a business proposition. Would you be available for dinner this evening? Eight o’clock?”
Looking a bit confused she shrugged. “I suppose…I’m starting my flying lessons today but I doubt we’ll be out too late. Pinkie doesn’t want me flying after dark.”
“Good! Good you know the address right?” Of course she did, it was the only mansion in Ponyville.
“Yes sir. I’ll be there, thank you. Er…I don’t suppose you can tell me what this is about now?”
The business pony chuckled. “I prefer to talk business in a private setting. I’m a bit of a traditionalist that way I’m afraid. I think this could be a good opportunity for the both of us however. I look forward to seeing you! I’m sure Diamond Tiara will be delighted too. She always has such nice things to say about your daycare.”
Jennifer sincerely doubted THAT. No foal spent more time in the time out corner than Diamond Tiara did. Cheerilee might be somehow blind to the filly’s bullying but Jennifer certainly was not. “I look forward to seeing her too of course.” Dinky shot her an incredulous look that went unnoticed by the stallion as he departed.
“I thought you didn’t like Diamond Tiara.”
Jen shrugged. “I don’t but her dad’s a nice guy and he’s inviting me into his home. A little fake politeness never hurt anypony.”
The filly gave a slow nod tucking this new nugget of information away. Soon enough Jen’s agent was freed up and he cheerfully waved her over. “Well if it isn’t Miss Pie, my favorite alien client!” They shared a laugh at his usual greeting.
“Hello Mr. Loan. Here for the weekly deposit and my friend here is ready to open an account of her own.”
The stallion had a wide smile as he looked down on the little filly. “Well today’s a big day for you than miss…?”
Dinky shyly peeked out from around Jen’s legs. “Doo sir. Dinky Doo.”
“Ah! Dinky Doo! Your mother does business with us. Savings Bond handles her accounts if you’d like to work with her?”
Dinky shook her head. “No sir! This is fine.”
“Well then! Let’s get Jennifer’s deposit taken care of and then we’ll see about opening your account hmm?” He led them to the vault chambers and had Jen heave her bag on the scale. A low whistle escaped his muzzle. “Five hundred and ten? Miss Pie I think you bring more in every week.”
Jen laughed. “Up to thirty four foals a day now. Three bits a head five days a week! Some’ll go to taxes and upkeep for the daycare of course but the rest…” She shrugged. “I don’t have much to spend money on. Princess Luna paid for our home to be furnished.”
Her banker chuckled as she rested her hand against vault 1402, the door swinging open and the stallion emptying her bits into the room. It was a huge vault and the pile of money within seemed rather tiny by comparison, but it was hers.
“Almost forgot!” She counted out twenty bits and added them to Dinky’s little pile. “A weeks pay for a week’s work!”
The filly beamed proudly not noticing the smile shared by the adults. “Alright Miss Doo let’s see about your vault hmm?” Quick lead them a few doors down. “Here we are 1415 just freed up so this one is all yours. All you have to do is rest your hoof on the plate there…that’s the way.”
Timidly Dinky placed her hoof where instructed. A little jolt ran along her horn and through the plate which shifted to the periwinkle color of her aura, than the door cracked open. “Bits on the scale please Miss Doo.”
Dinky seemed to take particular delight in being called ‘Miss Doo’ and grandly poured her bits on the scale. “Forty two!” You needed at least one hundred bits to open an account, and when the banker looked up at Jen with a raised brow she nodded toward her own vault. Reading her intentions clearly he smiled. “Well everything’s in order Miss Doo if you’d please deposit your money.” While the filly dashed into her own vault Jen discreetly slipped back to hers and counted out the rest of the bits Dinky would need, tossing them in behind the filly as she rocketed back out.
“All done! So I have my own account now?!”
Mr. Loan chuckled. “Indeed you do! Now you have a 5% interest rate on your bits. For every year a bit sits in your vault you’ll get one fifth from us as a thank you for using our bank.”
Dinky was considerably better at math than most of her fellows. She cocked her head. “So if I have a hundred bits in there for a year I only get five?”
Jen laughed. “Well yeah but it’s five bits for doing nothing. And look at mine; I have a little more than a thousand in there right now. So I’ll get fifty for nothing in a year. And that number will just keep going up as I save.”
The filly digested this new information. “So the more I save the more I earn?”
“Exactly right Miss Doo. What a smart young filly.”
She frowned a little. “If all my money’s in the vault how will I buy anything?”
“You can withdraw your bits whenever you like, as long as you keep it above a certain number for insurance reasons. You don’t have to worry about that though.”
Jen gave her a smile. “I think you should leave what you have in the vault alone for now Dinky. Next week you can keep ten bits, and save the other ten alright?”
Bidding farewell to their banking agent the pair left. “That’s a good idea. Then I can still have spending money but I’m saving more too!”
“That’s the idea. I need to get to Fluttershy’s cottage now though. You be alright from here?”
“Mmhm. Thanks Jen! I had fun today.”
The human girl laughed and gave her little friend a pat. “Good. Bankings not the most exciting thing in the world but it’s important. I’ll see you after school tomorrow. It’s movie day!” She left the filly practically buzzing in excitement. Her iPod had a veritable library of cinema inside it and an animated Disney movie a week seemed to blow the foals minds. Plus she always went by Bon-bon’s confectionary for a small buffet of candy.
She switched to her pegasus shape on the walk to the cottage. Fluttershy lived on the very edge of town just outside the Everfree. How such a timid pony tolerated living so close to the supposedly monster infested forest remained a mystery to the girl. Her musings were interrupted by an alarmed cry from behind.
“Look out!”
Of course the shout came too late and she barely had time to register it before she was ploughed over by a scooter rushing by at break neck speeds. The little orange pegasus filly behind the attempted vehicular manslaughter screeched to a half. “Oh man, you ok Jenny?”
With a grunt she picked herself up off the ground. “I’m great. You need to be more careful with that thing Scootaloo. You could hurt somepony a little less sturdy than I am.”
“Yeah sorry! I’m just REALLY excited! Aren’t YOU?!” Her little wings were buzzing hard enough to actually lift her off the ground a bit. Jen had noticed lately the little filly was buzzing a few inches off the ground more and more.
“Oh! Are you going to learn to fly with me?”
The filly nodded fast enough Jen was afraid her head was going to pop free of her neck. “Yup! Rainbow Dash said it’d be cool with you! I-it uh is right?”
“Of course! I guess I better go full pony for this hm?” Ducking behind a tree Jen shed her clothes and tucked them into her bag, changing to her full pegasus shape and trotting back out, slinging it over her back. “So. Excited for tomorrow? I picked a good movie.”
Scootaloo was already fired up over the prospect of learning flight from her idol. Heaping what was fast becoming every foal in town’s favorite activity atop that only set her buzzing faster. “Of course! What’re we watching?!”
“Either Aladdin or the Lion King. Both are favorites of mine. Really there aren’t a lot of bad ones. Maybe Toy Story 2? You guys seemed to love the first one.”
“There’s ANOTHER one?!”
“Heh. A two and a three. I guess that settles that.”
Their teachers for the evening were chatting outside Fluttershy’s cottage as the fillies approached. “Hello girls. Who’s ready for an exciting evening of wing care and proper take off procedures?”
Both young ponies exchanged an ‘is she serious’ look at Fluttershy’s seemingly earnest question. Dash of course noticed it and grimaced a little. “Sorry girls but she’s right. Gotta start with the basics. If I had MY way we’d be in the sky already but uh…” She gulped and looked at a nearby tree were a certain pink mare was poorly concealed. “…uh safety comes first of course!”
Neither filly wanted to invoke the unpredictable wrath of Pinkie Pie so with muted ‘yays’ they split off with their individual instructors. Jennifer’s large majestic wings closely mirrored Fluttershy’s own, while Scootaloo had the short rapid flapping appendages common to Rainbow Dash’s class. While Dash would inevitably be more fun, a small part of Jen had to admit Fluttershy would likely be a better instructor.
Jen followed curiously as Fluttershy lead her back into the cottage. “Don’t we uh…gotta be outside for flight lessons?”
“Oh. Well yes. Normally. But first you need to learn a very basic activity pegasi engage in. I can see by the condition of your wings that you haven’t been taking proper care of them.” It seemed to dawn on the timid mare that this could be construed as an insult. “O-oh dear. I mean I’m sure you’re not doing it on PURPOSE of course b-but nopony told you how to properly preen!”
‘Wow she almost raised her voice to a normal level.’ “Nope. Haven’t heard of preening. That’s a bird thing right? How they fix up bent feathers and stuff?”
“It is! It’s also a very social activity for pegasi. Since we can’t reach the feathers at the base of our wings we have to help each other a little. Usually Rainbow Dash helps with mine, but I told her I wanted to wait so you could learn.” She spread her own wings wide. When Jen looked close she could in fact see some of the feathers looked a little crooked, a few a little bent. “We preen for a few reasons. To keep our feathers properly aligned for optimum flight. To remove bent, broken, or molted feathers that are being a little sticky. And to apply a fresh coat of saliva to our feathers.”
Jen wrinkled her nose. “Why does the last part matter?”
Fluttershy tucked her wings back in. “A pegasus’ saliva acts as a sort of…sealing agent. It helps waterproof our feathers and keep them nice and strong. Now we can do the traditional method which is to directly use our mouths to preen. This can be a little intimate, so if you’d be uncomfortable with that there are special combs and brushes we can use.”
“Mmm. I think the traditional approach. I mean I AM supposed to learn how to be a proper pegasus right? And I dunno…” Jen scuffed a hoof on the floor. “I mean it’s not like ROMANTIC intimate right?”
“N-no! Oh goodness no of course not. But somepony’s don’t like such close contact. Preening is normally done by family or very close friends.”
The verdant filly smiled a little. “After all the late night talks you have with me I think we fall into the last category don’t we?”
“Yes we certainly do. I just wanted to be sure you would be comfortable. I’ll demonstrate on myself, and then you’ll practice on some of the feathers you can easily reach. Once you’re ready we’ll move onto the ones we need one another for. Does that sound good?”
Nodding eagerly Jen settled on her haunches to watch. Fluttershy slowly extended her wing and sat close enough for the filly to clearly see her mouth as she lipped and nibbled at the bent feathers, slowly working them back into place at the end of her wing. “There now. Why don’t you try?”
Brow furrowed in concentration she extended one of her wings then bent it over her face a little awkwardly. It took a few tries to get it into proper position. “Sorry I haven’t really moved them like this.”
Her instructor shook her head smiling gently all the while. “This isn’t a race. We have all the time in the world. You take as long as you need.”
With a determined nod Jen refocused on her task. It was a little uncomfortable holding her wing like she was but she ignored the discomfort and went to work. Tentatively taking the nearest feather in her lips she gave an experimental nibble. “It tastes a little…waxy?”
“Mmhm. Your wings must have a coat of saliva included when you grew them. But it seems to be wearing off judging by the poor condition of your feathers. Go ahead and do a few more.”
Nodding again she set to work. A couple times she bit down a little too hard, or tugged a bit too much which hurt…a lot. But she was soon getting the hang of it. “I think I got it!”
“Oh very good! Let’s give it a try hm?” Fluttershy spread her right wing out wide. “Take your time, find the bent feathers and go ahead and get started.”
Jen had to scoot much closer, almost brushing up against Fluttershy as she moved in to examine the older pegasi’s wing. Now she understood the part about it being an intimate act, she was close enough to feel Fluttershy’s body heat. Tentatively she took the first bent feather she could find and worked to smooth it out.
“Oo! Sorry…Rainbow Dash says my wings are a little sensitive. Very gently please.” Frowning at having hurt the gentle mare Jen eased her approach a good deal; her movements slow and deliberate as she gently smoothed the feather back into position. “That’s much better, thank you Jennifer.”
Moving at the more sedate pace the filly kept up her work, her tail flicking now and again as she focused. With time and care however first one wing was finished, than the other. “All done!”
Fluttershy rose to her hooves and moved to a mirror against the wall examining her wings with a critical eye. “Very good Jennifer! Absolutely wonderful. Now let’s get you taken care of hm?”
Taking a deep breath Jen nodded and settled on her belly like Fluttershy had, spreading her wing as wide as she could. “You can relax just a little.” She did. “Tsk. I suppose this is partly my fault. I should have mentioned this earlier. You spend a lot of time with wings and it just never occurred the usual wear and tear would build up.”
Jen winced as she felt Fluttershy go to work. At first it was a very alien sensation, having someone TOUCH her wings at all wasn’t something she was used to, let alone nibbling and licking at them. Though as the more experienced pegasus went to work a comforting warmth spread from her feather appendages. It felt like the time her mother drug her to the spa for a day and she got a massage. It felt gooooood.
The mare stifled a giggle when she heard the filly she was tending to heave a tremendous sigh and visibly relax. She didn’t even seem to feel it when Fluttershy plucked an errant feather here and there. She was a good deal more experienced than Jennifer of course, so she was able to move from one wing to the other in half the time even with so many more feathers needing attention. Without a word the green coated filly closed one wing and spread the other.
All too soon in Jen’s opinion Fluttershy stood. “All done! How does that feel?”
With a goofy grin the young pony wobbly got to her hooves flexing her wings open and closed. “Amaaaaazing! It feels so much better! I hadn’t even realized anything was wrong!”
Fluttershy giggled softly. “Well once a week you need to have this done. Rainbow Dash and I get together Wednesday afternoons for our preening. You’re more than welcome to join in.”
“I will! Thanks!” Still grinning Jen folded her wings back against her sides. “What’s next?”
Smiling at the filly’s eagerness Fluttershy lead her back outside. “Next we’re going to climb that little hill there and let the wind blow over our wings. You need to get a feel for the subtle shifts against your feathers. It’s not quite the same as being up high but it’s a good place to start.”
Jen could see Rainbow and Scootaloo already in the air a little. The small orange filly was taking big running starts and leaping up, hovering for a few moments. That looked a lot more exciting than letting the breeze blow over her wings. Of course Scoot had been a pegasus her whole life so she probably had a good head start on a lot of this stuff. With a resigned sigh she trudged up the hill.
“We’ll take this nice and easy. Today I just want you to spread your wings and try to concentrate on the feel of the wind on your feathers alright?”
With a nod Jennifer did as she was instructed. “I didn’t realize there’d be so much to this.”
Fluttershy settled on the ground comfortably before the filly. “Well flying requires a little more effort on our part than on that of pegasi like Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. They can make do by beating their wings faster. If we tried that we’d just fall.”
The young pony closed her eyes just trying to focus on the feel of her wings in the gentle breeze. It DID feel different on the large feathers at the edge than on the smaller ones of her inner wings. She listened patiently as Fluttershy explained thermals, air currents, and up and down drafts. After some silence she peeked an eye open to look at her instructor. “Can I ask you something?”
Nodding gently the mare smiled. “Of course. You can ask me anything.”
Jen looked down at the ground. Her wings were starting to get a little tired from being held open so long but she could last a bit longer. “Well. Is it uh, normal for two fillies to…mmm…date?”
“Oh. Oh! Oh my. Well that is um…are you sure I’m the best pony to ask about this?”
Jen shrugged a little. “Well I’m pretty sure Twilight wouldn’t be very helpful about romance. Same with Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash…and Applejack. I could ask Rarity but I uh, feel comfortable talking to you?”
The timid mare took a deep breath. “Alright. Well. I don’t know if normal is the right word. Oh that doesn’t sound right does it? It’s not uncommon of course; there are so many mares to stallions after all. Only the most traditional and stuck up of ponies really have a problem with it I think.” The poor pegasus was blushing furiously. “I’ve um, dated both.”
This was a bit of a shock to the filly. “Really?!”
Hesitantly Fluttershy continued. “Yes. To me personally the outside doesn’t matter as much as what’s on the inside. If a pony would show interest in me, and they were um…my type…I’d give them a chance. I don’t think love cares if your special somepony is a mare or a stallion, just that they’re right for you. D-does that help?”
Jennifer nodded looking contemplative. “I think so. That makes a lot of sense too.”
Feeling especially bold Fluttershy inched closer. “Is there a certain pony you have in mind?”
Now it was Jen’s turn to blush. “W-well um…remember my night pony friend? Echo?” At the mares nod she continued. “Well we’ve kinda sorta…been dating. A LITTLE. I’ve never had a boy or uh…girlfriend before so this is all really new to me.”
“Hm. Do you prefer fillies to colts?”
Jen’s blush intensified. “I dunno. I don’t think so? I mean…I never really looked at the girls back home in an uh, romantic way.” She frowned a little suddenly. “Of course I didn’t really show a lot of interest in the boys either. Except for Big Mac when he visited with Applejack that one time.”
Fluttershy giggled softly. “Well who WOULDN’T with Big Mac?”
Jen gasped at the scandalous remark and they both shared a laugh. “I guess that’s true. Maybe it’s like you said…the inside matters more than the outside? I mean there’s no way Echo thinks the human me is cute. I look pretty bizarre compared to all of you.”
When Fluttershy nodded in agreement Jen huffed a little. “Well I can’t disagree with that. You do look unusual. O-oh my. Not BAD of course! Just um, different.” She took a moment to regain her composure. “I think the best advice I can give you is to follow your heart. Do you care for Echo?”
“I do! I think she’s my best friend here in Equestria. …or Earth I suppose.” She laughed at that. “We have tons of fun together and she’s really smart and funny. I really like hanging out with her.”
“Hm. Can you see yourself doing romantic things with her though? Or do you just like being friends?”
Jen’s frown returned. “I dunno. We haven’t really done anything super romantic. We usually just walk around the city together or hang out at the art district. Like I said I’ve been taking it slowly. I guess maybe I should try a more…date-like setting?”
“If you’re serious about giving it a try I think it’s only fair to Echo that you sort out your feelings soon. It’s never fun to hurt a friends feelings, but it will be a lot worse if you don’t say anything to her down the road and she gets the wrong idea.”
“You’re right. When I go to Canterlot tomorrow I’ll…ask her on a proper date. I definitely have the extra bits at least.” She blinked suddenly. “Oh man! What time is it?”
With a soft eep Fluttershy took off for her cottage, Jennifer’s tone instilling a bit of panic into the easily startled mare. She returned swiftly. “T-ten to eight?”
“Gah! I’ve got to get going I’m supposed to be at Mr. Rich’s in ten minutes for a dinner!”
“Oh dear he lives clear across town.” With a gentle flap of her wings Fluttershy made her way to the other practicing pegasi. “Rainbow Dash? Jennifer needs to get to Filthy Rich’s house right away.”
Jen swallowed at the dangerous gleam that lit in the speedster’s eye. “RIGHT away?”
To her horror it only intensified at Fluttershy’s nod. “RIGHT away. She has a fancy dinner to get to and she’s almost late.”
A toothy grin split Rainbow’s muzzle and she ruffled Scootaloo’s mane. “I think we hit a good stopping point anyway squirt. Same time tomorrow alright?” She didn’t wait for the filly’s response. A flap of her powerful wings carried up into the air above the three pegasus ponies and Jen followed her ascent curiously.
“You might want to brace yourself Jennifer.”
Before she could get the ‘why’ that was forming on her lips out there was a sudden burst of sound overhead. Rainbow had halted her ascension and snapped into a dive streaking through the air and curving around toward Jen’s backside. Realization dawned on the poor filly and she stood stock still as Rainbow Dash snatched her under the forelegs as the pegasus rushed passed, lifting her into the air. A loud wail of fear and excitement filled the air above Ponyville as Jennifer was hauled at top speed by the top speedster in town.
***
Feather Duster painted her perfectly practiced smile on her face at the gentle knock that sounded from her employers’ front door. She’d been the Rich family’s maid for years and while the stallion of the house was a kind sort of fellow the mare and filly of the family demanded perfection from their servants. She’d been told to expect their dinner guest by eight o’clock, and she seemed to have the good manners to show up just on time.
The maid couldn’t hide a soft gasp as she opened the door to admit the filly. Her mane and tail were blown straight back as if she’d just walked here through a tornado. “G-good evening…Miss…Pie?”
Jen was still blinking the tears from her eyes. “O-oh…you must be Mrs. Rich! Sorry about my hair, I took the Rainbow Dash express.” She laughed nervously.
Well that explained the disheveled appearance. “No I’m Feather Duster, the Rich family’s maid. The family is just getting to the table now. Would you ah…like to freshen up?”
Carefully scuffing the dirt from her hooves on the welcome mat, to Feather Dusters dismay she shook her head. “Nah I don’t wanna be late. Sides it’s just my hair.” She made a token effort to smooth it down some.
“V-very well. Right this way Miss Pie.”
“Oh just Jen is fine.”
The interior of the mansion was just as fancy as the exterior. Lots of art hung from the walls. A big chandelier dangled from the ceiling. The doors were ornately carved dark wood. It looked like a miniature Canterlot castle really. Here and there a few ponies she assumed were other servants bustled about. Feather Duster delicately opened the door to the dining room. The table was a huge affair heaped with all sorts of delectable looking fruit, many of which Jen couldn’t identify.
“Miss Pie has arrived.”
To her surprise six ponies were seated at the table. Diamond Tiara in the center of the massive monstrosity and next to her was her friend and toady Silver Spoon. Jen didn’t dislike the spectacled filly as much as her friend. Generally once Diamond Tiara wound up in the timeout corner for the day Silver became a pretty bearable filly to be around.
A frowning pink mare that could only be Diamond’s mother sat beside whom Jen assumed to be Silver’s mom since they had almost identical coloration. At the head of the table sat a suddenly grinning Filthy Rich and at his side was another stallion with similar coloring to the Silver mares’ only reversed.
He boomed a deep laugh at Jen’s appearance. “Flight lessons going well then?”
She found herself relaxing. Despite the fancy setting the stallions’ good nature had a habit of putting anypony dealing with him at ease. “Flight lessons are going fine. My new style is courtesy of Rainbow Dash rushing me over. We lost track of time.”
Another laugh came at her answer. “Well introductions I think! You know Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon of course.” The former shot Jen a little scowl while the latter offered a little wave when her friend wasn’t looking. “My beautiful wife Diamond Shimmer and Silver’s mother Silver Polish.”
Both mares had a nearly identical look of ‘why is this filly in the dining room and not working in the kitchens’ that just about everypony that came to Luna’s night court while Jen was in attendance seemed to have. Both murmured equally un-genuine ‘It’s a pleasure’s.’
“Last but not least Sterling Silver! One of my best business partners.”
The other stallion in the room was eyeing Jennifer carefully, but his smile seemed genuine enough. “A pleasure to meet you Miss Pie. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Jen took the varying attitudes of the wealthy ponies in stride and wore her best smile. “A pleasure to meet you all as well. Thank you again for the invitation Mr. Rich.” To her surprise she was offered the seat immediately to Filthy Rich’s left and she slowly lowered herself into it. The fillies were closer to the middle of the table while the mares were at the opposite end. Jen didn’t much mind being away from them.
“Congratulations are in order I think? You’ve been formally announced as Princess Luna’s student. That’s no small feat.”
Jen blushed a little at the head of house’s unexpected announcement. Luna had made their relationship official at her last weekend trip. “Oh! Well thank you sir. It’s nothing special really. I’m just learning about politics and such from her.”
The Silver stallion raised an eyebrow. “From what I’ve been hearing you’ve been doing a little more than learning about how the court works. Word is the princess has you take something of an active role.”
This was true. Every now and then, usually twice a night or so the princess would urge Jennifer to share her opinion on the occasional petition. “Well mostly she just asks what I think. It’s not that big a deal.”
“She routinely follows your advice though doesn’t she?” This was also true. Of course she tended to side with the common pony over the nobles more often than not. Typically there was always a clever little loophole to help the worse off party while keeping to the letter of the law.
“Well I guess. Only when it’s the right decision though.”
Filthy sat back as the servants brought in the first course, a (to Jen’s mind) pleasantly simple celery soup. She could hear a few complaints about the common fare down the table but neither stallion nor filly seemed to mind. “You’ve been making more than a few controversial decisions. More than a few important ponies aren’t big fans of yours.”
Jen eyed the soup like an old enemy rearing its head. More specifically the soup SPOON she was expected to use with her hooves, a skill she still had not picked up. After a few unsuccessful attempts, much to her hosts’ amusement she resorted to sipping from the bowl. “I guess. I suppose I don’t really care what they think? I have my friends and the princess likes me so what do their opinions of me matter?”
She heard both a gasp of astonishment from the mares at the end of the table at her uncouth eating habits, and a little giggle from the Silver filly. “That’s a fine attitude to have young lady. More than a few of the Canterlot snobs are none too pleased at a pair of earth pony families finding as much success as ours have.”
Sterling nodded in agreement to that. “Unfortunately true. Many of the old blood unicorn families look down on earth pony business ventures. It can be a chore getting anything done from time to time.”
This wasn’t exactly news to Jen, but she’d never heard it voiced so clearly. Typically the grievances in court were a unicorn on the noble end and an earth or pegasus pony on the common. “I’ve sorta noticed that in court.”
The small talk continued throughout the meal. The mares seemed happy to pretend Jen wasn’t there and that suited her just fine. Mr. Rich and Silver were both nice enough guys even if the economic talks that began toward the middle of the meal lost her interest. Dessert came and went and everypony rose from the table. “Well let’s make our way to the study hm? Get the business out of the way.”
Jennifer was pretty curious about the whole reason for her being here, so with a half-hearted ‘thanks for dinner’ thrown out to the mares in general she followed the stallions to Filthy’s study. It was shockingly similar to her father’s back home really. He poured a trio of drinks into small glasses handing one to each of the ponies in the room. After an experimental sniff Jen happily identified it as apple family cider and sipped a little.
“Well let’s get right down to it hm?” She nodded and had a seat across from the stallions. “Your little business has been doing quite well for itself Jennifer. You did one of the absolute best things a pony can do in the business world. Find a need that wasn’t being filled, and fill it. Best of all it’s a very basic need that can be done by most anypony and for very little personal cost.”
It was Sterling’s turn to speak now. “Filthy and I didn’t get to where we are now by ignoring an opportunity when we see one. Your daycare idea has potential to grow into a very profitable enterprise. We’d like your permission to open branches of the Stay and Play Daycare in Manehattan and Minneighsota.”
Filthy took over. “Sterling and I would front the cost for opening and running the new businesses until the profit starts coming in. It’d be a bit of an investment for the both of us since opening a new business in some of the bigger cities requires quite a few bits. Permits, buying the building, business licenses all sorts of legal red tape. Still seeing the success you’ve had in our little town it only makes sense that taking this to the big cities would be equally if not more profitable.”
This was all a bit of a surprise to Jennifer. She didn’t know what to expect when she was asked to come here but it sure wasn’t opening franchises of her daycare in other cities. “Uh…well whaddo you need me for? Can’t you just…do it?”
“Very true. We could just open our own out in the city and change the name around. But that’s not how we like to do business. When a pony comes up with an idea it’s in our shared opinion that the pony in question deserves the recognition earned. We think a fair split of the profit is 75/25. As said before this will be a considerable investment for Silver and I, and while it is your idea we’re the ones who stand to lose out if it doesn’t take off out in the bigger cities. Now assuming that it does take hold like we expect it to, you’d be able to buy your way into an equal partnership once things stabilize and you have a few more bits to your name.”
The young filly sat back on her haunches a bit firmer. This was all coming as a big surprise. She definitely didn’t start the daycare with intent of making money. Sure it was a happy by product of the business but she mostly did it to give herself something to do and to help out around town in her own way. “Uh…well sure. I mean twenty five percent is more than the zero I’m getting now right?” She laughed a little.
“Ha! Quite right. I have the paperwork drafted here. It just talks about what we just talked about, the locations and agreed upon split of the profits. The buy in clause is there too of course. If at any time you raise the bits to pay for a third of the cost to open the new franchises you’ll receive an equal third of the individual franchises profits, including owed back pay.”
Having not quite mastered the art of writing with her mouth Jen had to revert to humanoid shape to add her signature to the stallions’ own. Both seemed a bit surprised at her sudden transformation having never witnessed her changes in person. Documents signed she dropped back to four hooves soon enough. “Anything else?”
“Heh. No Miss Pie I think this covers it. Unless you have another huge money making idea in that head of yours.”
About to laugh off the comment she paused and both stallions leaned forward at the sudden look in her eye. “How much have you guys heard about the movie day we have on Fridays?”
***
In addition to nearly every foal in town, more than a few grown ponies (including Pinkie Pie of course), there were a pair of wealthy stallions in attendance as Twilight enlarged Jennifer’s iPod in preparation for movie day. The candy table was of course nearly empty as Jen made her way to her giant sized entertainment device. “Hello everypony and welcome to movie day!”
There was the usual cheer that accompanied this. It was fair to say every foal in town (and Pinkie Pie) looked forward to Friday afternoons as the highlight of their week. “By popular demand we’ll be showing Toy Story 2.” Excited exclamations of ‘there’s a two?!’ rose from the crowd. With a laugh Jen cycled through the title list and got the show started, taking a seat in the back next to the visiting stallions.
Not twenty minutes into the film they rose and beckoned her to follow them outside. “Please tell me that those names you were flipping through on that big screen of yours are each a different movie?”
Jen grinned at the excitement in Filth Rich’s voice. “Yes sir. I know Equestria already has movie theatres but the movies you guys show are kinda….”
“Awful?” Sterling supplied.
“Well I wasn’t gonna say AWFUL…just not as high quality? I mean we’ve been doing movies for like sixty years or something on Earth? Probly longer I guess. I’m not big on history over there.”
“Can you get the movie out of that thing and onto a proper film reel?”
Jen shrugged. “Twilight thinks she can use a Copy and Paste spell she calls it. It works for books and pictures and stuff, and a movie is just a bunch of rapidly moving pictures.” Probably an overly simplified explanation but it did the job.
“Young lady if you can get the films out of that and onto the reels we can get them into the theatres.”
With a little nod Jen frowned. “There're all sorts of genres. Comedy, horror, romance, action. Before I leave for Canterlot this evening how about I teach you two how to play the films? You can spend some time going through what I got and see what you think would work best?”
“Sounds like a fine idea to me. Now…let’s get back in there. I want to see the rest.” Jen laughed at the adult ponies’ excitement for the children’s movie, but she wasn’t too surprised. Plenty of adults back home loved them and humans weren’t nearly as whimsical at the ponies.
Once the film had ended and the crowd was on their way home, Jen left Dinky to start the clean-up while she instructed Mr’s Rich and Silver on how to operate her iPod. “Twilight said it could stay big, she’ll pop in periodically and refresh the spell. Just remember what I said about the ratings. If there’s an R on there it’s likely to have some graphic violence or harsh language.”
“Consider us warned Miss Pie.” Filthy gently tapped through the titles, grinning when he found Toy Story 3. “I believe we should get started on our research right away don’t you Sterling?”
With a laugh Jen helped Dinky clean up and slung her bag across her back. She was starting to get used to the idea of picking up so much with her mouth, but now and again she’d hesitate at the odd sticky wrapper or cup. “How come you weren’t human today?”
Jennifer shrugged as she led the filly outside. “I’m in pony training! Luna wants me to learn about each tribe and how to live like them so I’m gonna be spending all day as each for a couple weeks probly. I’ll only change when I need to.”
“That makes sense.” Dinky kicked a rock gently as they walked. She always got a little moody on the trip to the train station.
“Got any big weekend plans?”
“Not really. Probly just do my homework. Twilight Sparkle’s gonna start tutoring me in my magic tomorrow though so that might be fun!”
Jen resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Generally studying with Twilight was the opposite of what she considered fun. Of course Dinky was a lot more academically minded than she was. “You know I bet you will have fun.”
“What about you? Are YOU doing anything fun this weekend?”
Other than intending to ask another filly on a proper dinner date which could turn out to be a huge disaster? “No just the usual. Night court and sword play. I ALMOST got her once last week.”
“Ooo! Was she mad?”
Jen laughed. “No she wasn’t mad. Proud I think. She wants me to get better after all. That’s why teachers teach I guess.” Flashing her ‘royal passage’ pass to the pony working the ticket booth today she took a seat with the crowd awaiting the train. “I’ll see you Monday right? You keep out of trouble.”
Dinky puffed her cheeks a bit huffily. “I never get in trouble!”
With another laugh Jen rose as the train began to approach. “I know Dinky. I’ll see you later alright?” Ruffling the filly’s mane she boarded the train, waving as it departed as she did every week.
Frowning at the mirror in the washroom of her private car she stared at herself. “So Echo! Dinner tonight? My treat? …no that’s lame. Echo would you like to go out with me? …also lame. Hey Echo, how about you show me your favorite restaurant!” With a groan she flopped onto her bed.
“…ugh.” This was gonna be harder than she thought.