Living in Equestria

by Blazewing


The Best-Laid Plans of Foals and Men

“‘But as she came to the top of the rise, she stopped and looked back down. There was the glen, and there was Arbor, seeing her off. Even if he’d never let it show on that stoic face of his, Daring allowed herself a smile in knowing that he would miss her, as she would miss him.’”

Moonlight and I were settled together on her sofa, Legend of the Earthwing between us. It hadn’t rained today, but I felt like the girls deserved a break for working so hard, so we decided to meet in the clubhouse later to discuss what other means we could utilize to earning bits. I therefore had time to finish the book with my young neighbor, and we finally managed to work our way through the book by mid-afternoon.

“That was a really interesting diversion from the usual stuff,” said Moonlight.

“Yeah. Wonder how the Staff of Star Swirl will go, though.”

“It sounds really mysterious, but let’s save it for next time. My eyes are tired.”

She stretched and yawned, and I even fancied I heard her wing joints crack.

“Fair enough,” I said. “I’ll see you later, Moonlight.”

“Bye!”

She walked me to the door, and I made for home. Once inside, I set the book down on the table, and was just heading for the kitchen when someone knocked at the front door.

“Who is it?” I called.

“L.D.S.!” responded the knocker, whose voice I recognized as Spike’s.

Sure enough, when I opened the door, there he was, dragging a red wagon behind him. It was full of books and covered by a thick tarp.

“Hi, Spike. What does ‘L.D.S.’ mean?”

“Library Delivery Service! Twilight sent me out to see if anypony needed books borrowed or returned, for those who can’t make it to the library in person.”

He puffed out his chest in pride of being chosen for such a job..

“Congrats!” I said. “That’s a big responsibility.”

“I know! Just goes to show how much faith she puts in me. Anyways, she also asked me to give this to you.”

He held up a thick gray tome, titled ‘Engineering for Beginners’. I accepted it and flipped through it, curious.

“Since you must be really close to your goal, Twilight thought you might need to brush up on actually building your cart. If you ask me,” he added, as an aside, “it says it’s for beginners, but I can’t make heads or tails of it.”

“Well, it does look a little complex,” I said, “but we should have plenty of time, if we go by it. There’s even an entire section on motors! And here I was thinking we’d need to go by pedal power.”

“Twi knew you’d like it!” said Spike.

“Well, tell her I said thanks. This’ll be a big help.”

“Yes, sir!” said Spike, saluting.

I was turning back into the house, when I remembered something.

“Oh! That reminds me! Spike, there’s something to go to the library on the table there. Do you think you can take care of it?”

“Sure thing!”

I continued leafing through the book as Spike came in.

“Can I get you anything?” I asked, keeping my attention on the pages. “Water? Juice? Hot cocoa?”

“No thanks!” said Spike, and I heard him grunt as he picked up his return load. “I’ve gotta get back anyway. See you later!”

“Bye!”

I heard Spike close the door behind him. I just stood there, leafing through the sections of the book. I was no mechanic or engineer, but it fascinated me to know that Equestria had such similar technology to Earth. A little archaic, perhaps, but still similar. Back at the Q&A, Twilight had told me that certain amenities that we humans had, such as television, computers, and the like, were at least known of in Equestria, but otherwise rare in physical existence. This book, however, was a gold mine in our endeavor. Why did I ever think we’d need bike pedals for propulsion if Equestria had its hooves on operating motor technology?

At last, I snapped the book shut.

“This is great! Once we reach the last bits we need, we can get a quick start on construction! I’d better tell the girls! And just in time for the meeting, too! How lucky!”

I tucked the book under my arm and headed out the door. Spike was already on his way back to the library, so I had to round up the rest of the Crusaders myself.

“Well, hello, Mr. Dave!”

Uh oh. That voice…

As I dreaded, Diamond Tiara was just coming up the path that led to Sweet Apple Acres. For once, Silver Spoon was absent.

“Hello, Diamond Tiara,” I said, politely. “What brings you around here?”

“I was just taking a little stroll through the country while Daddy’s shopping.”

“How nice,” I said.

(Stroll through the country? More like you went to gloat to Apple Bloom or any other foal who’d listen.)

“And how’s your little project coming along?” she asked.

“Really good. We’re close to 400 bits already.”

“Wow!” she said, though I wasn’t sure if her surprise was genuine or sarcastic. “You’re really pushing yourselves. I mean, nearly 400 bits in 2 weeks? You might just make it.”

“Oh, we’re not slacking off yet,” I said. “We’re making sure we have all the time we need to make our cart properly.”

“I still think you’d have a better chance at just having one made for you,” said Diamond Tiara. “After all, what makes you more comfortable: knowing your cart was being handled by professionals, or by foals who probably wouldn’t know a monkey wrench from a screwdriver?”

“You don’t know that,” I retorted, though still keeping my temper under control. “They may just surprise you.”

Diamond Tiara just smirked in response, as if to say she wasn’t convinced.

“Well, I really should get going. We don’t have time to lose.”

“Ta-ta.”

I walked off, leaving Diamond Tiara to herself. I didn’t look back, but I could almost feel her mean little eyes watching me as I went.

***

I arrived last to the clubhouse, the girls having beaten me there. Sweetie Belle seemed to be regaling them with a description of her Sweet-tastic Smorgasbord Pie.

“Oh. Mah. Gosh!” said Apple Bloom. “That sounds like the most fantastic pie Ah’ve ever heard!”

Sweet-tastic, Apple Bloom,” corrected Dinky. “Weren’t you listening?”

“I can make it again someday,” said Sweetie Belle. “You’ll love it!”

“My mouth’s already watering for it!” said Scootaloo.

“Trust me,” I said, as I entered, “a pie like that is worth the wait.”

The fillies looked up as I sat down.

“Where’ve you been?” asked Dinky. “You said 3:45, and now it’s 4!”

“Sorry, girls, I was held up a bit. Diamond Tiara wanted to chat.”

A dark cloud seemed to pass over the faces of the fillies, especially Apple Bloom.

“Ah already had an earful of what she had to say,” she said. “She came by to brag about her cart, and about the slick racin’ outfit she's gonna wear for the race.”

(So I was right: she did just want to brag.)

“Well, don’t worry about her, gals. We’ve got other matters to attend to. Now, we originally organized this meeting to discuss our next methods of raising bits, but Spike dropped by with this book, per Twilight’s suggestion.”

I laid the book down on the table, and the girls crowded around to take a look.

Engineering for Beginners?” queried Scootaloo.

“Exactly! We’ll keep it here as a reference guide for when we’re ready to start work building the cart. That way, we’ll know how to make it look and drive right. Think we can handle it?”

The girls looked excited.

“Definitely!” said Apple Bloom.

“I already know a little engineering,” said Scootaloo, grinning. “I’ve been working on building a motor for our next parade float. Besides, how do you think I keep my scooter in such good working order?”

“It’s true!” said Dinky. “I see her wiping it down and fiddling with the wheels all the time!”

“And Apple Bloom rebuilt the clubhouse all by herself!” said Sweetie Belle. “She knows a little about building!”

“Eeyup!” said Apple Bloom, proudly.

“That’s great! With what you already know, plus what this book can teach us, there’s no way we can fail! Let’s do it!”

“Yeah!”

The five of us high-fived (or, high-hoofed, whatever the case may be) across the table. We were gonna be unstoppable.

Sunday, November 18: 386 bits.

***

The next day dawned like any other, and I was out and about once again. Fluttershy needed her yard swept of leaves, as she didn’t want any stray leaves blocking up her burrowing animals’ dens, so I set to work raking and sweeping. I worked near Fluttershy, so that the two of us could talk. As the weather was turning colder, she was wearing a cute, fluffy scarf around her neck that matched her eyes.

“It feels like I don’t see you as much, Fluttershy,” I said, “and I’m really sorry about that.”

“Oh, you don’t have to be sorry,” said Fluttershy. “I know you must be really busy, helping the girls with raising bits for the derby. I’m just glad to help out any way I can.”

“Still, I’ll try to find something for the two of us to do. I hate feeling like I’ve neglected any of my friends.”

Fluttershy smiled kindly, and I went on with my work.

In the end, I made another 10 bits out of this job. With that, added to Scootaloo’s 3 from her paper route, coupled with the addition from Ironmane, would put us over 400! Only about 100 more, and we’d have enough to buy the supplies we needed!

Something was different, however, as I went to make my latest deposit. It was around the time Ironmane usually stopped by to deliver my stipend, but he wasn’t there. The money was, however. It was in the mailbox, with a note attached.

David,
I apologize for not staying around to deliver you your dues in person. Something urgent has called me back to Canterlot immediately. You need not worry about it; I can handle it myself.
Enjoy your week,
Minister Ironmane.

I wondered what kind of urgent business could have called him back, but figured he’d be the last person to question about his personal affairs. So, I picked up the bag and headed inside.

When I came in, the first thing I noted was that the window was open. I must have forgotten to close it from using it as a breeze vent last night. I made for the living room table to deposit the bits, but what I saw made my mouth fall open in horror, the bag fall from my hand, and my blood turn to ice.

There was nothing on the living room table.

It was empty.

The jar, our haven of collected bits, the protector of our accumulated wealth, was gone!

Monday, November 19: 0 bits.