Explain this to me, Tia!
I understand not why Tia has suddenly up and went crazy after her visit to Ponyvile. She keeps mentioning ponies under a 'contract', something that I do not understand, either. She still refuses to tell me why, saying that it should be a surprise. Why would I need to be surprised about ponies working under a contract? I mean, seriously, she obviously can't be referring to the 'contract' that was put in place countless years ago, I don't think any of those ponies even exist anymore!
Upset that her sister hadn't told her a thing since her sudden visit to Ponyville, Luna was brooding in the council room, where her sister had promised her that she would have all the answers she needed there. So far, no answers were given, since her sister was five minutes late. You'd think my sister would be on time to tell me what the heck is going on recently. I-
Before Luna could start a mental rant, the door opened, and Celestia entered the council room, followed by two unicorns. It's about time. Luna noted that her sister had two scrolls with her, and wondered what was printed on it, as well as to the reason why the two unicorns were here. As the group of three sat down, Luna spoke softly, awaiting her answers to her questions. "Tia, thank you for finally coming to sate my curiosity; it's about time you've given me some answers about whatever the heck is going on."
Celestia nodded, giving her sister a slight smile. "I know, and I apologize for not telling you sooner, but I had to find a few other contracted ponies first; they're scattered around Equestria, and I have not found them all yet."
She mentions this 'contract' again. Just tell me what it is, already! With a groan, Luna smacked the table she was sitting on with a hoof. "There you go again, spouting nonsense about this 'contract' without remembering that I know nothing about it! Please, at least give me a hint, so I can guess as to what you're talking about."
One of the unicorns, a minty green, spoke up, causing Luna to recoil violently once she heard the unicorn's voice. "I'm sure it'll all come back to you eventually, Lulu."
...I'm hearing things. That can't possibly... Despite the fact that she thought she was suddenly hearing voices, Luna spoke up hesitantly. "...Heartstrings? Is that you?"
The one and only, Lulu. It's great to be back.
Shocked, Luna stared at Heartstrings, then at the other unicorn at Celestia's side. "If this is Heartstrings, then you must be..."
Minuette. It's a pleasure to finally converse with you, Lulu, after all these years.
With a bewildered look, Luna looked over at Celestia, and demanded to know what was going on. "Explain this to me, Tia! I cannot fathom how contracted ponies are still alive, a thousand years later!"
Celestia laid out one of the scrolls onto the table, and Luna recognized it as the original contract that bound these ponies. "There appears to be a loop-hole within the contract that we created, Lulu. It appears that we did not account for the fact that we would become...'Separated'. Thus, I had no authority over these ponies since you were not there to challenge my orders, and you could not give them any."
Minuette nodded, pointing to a section of the contract. "Due to the fact that you were banished, Lulu, this contract condition was activated. Since you were technically missing, we had to await your return, thus extending our life well beyond the date our contract should have ended."
Luna looked over at the two unicorns with remorse, ashamed for what she had put them through. "I am sorry for causing this; I know that you were due for 'retirement' and had no wish to continue serving."
A wide smile was given by Minuette, not scathing words, which surprised Luna. "No need to apologize, Lulu. I actually enjoy the work that we do, and I wouldn't want to change a single thing if I could."
"However," Heartstrings spoke up, with a slight frown on her face, "I have to say that this contract is no longer suitable for present-day politics and life, so this contract must be rewritten, which is the purpose of this meeting. Sentimental feelings can wait until the contract is fixed."
"I agree." Celestia pointed at the first rule of the contract. "I only need help with the five commandments; everything else, I can do on my own, so let's begin."
1. All ponies signed under this contract must be a pony that has been on hard times, or is looking to prove that they want to turn their life around. This may include prisoners, the homeless, or any that wish for another chance at life. Partners are picked out by the princesses, and are determined by compatibility. A pony's natural lifespan is halted so that ponies do not age while under this contract, to ensure ponies are kept at the peak of their physical and mental health at the time of accepting the contract.
"I remember when Tia came to me, a lowly thief caught and thrown into a cell, shouting that I'd do anything to redeem myself." Minuette murmured, clearly remembering when she was first approached by Celestia and offered something she couldn't refuse.
Heartstrings nodded, allowing a small smile to grace her face as she remembered her own circumstances. "As I, Minuette, when she found me, in a little alleyway that I was calling home for a few weeks. I could not believe that she was offering me."
"I remember you two very well." Celestia said with a smile, taking a moment to remember both ponies at their lowest. A brief moment of silence passed before Celestia spoke up again. " The problem, however, is the entire commandment. Well, everything other than the lifespan bit. Equestria has been known peace for far too long, and for once, that is beginning to cause a problem. There are hardly any crimes committed in Equestria anymore, homeless ponies are few and far in-between, not to mention that most are housed with their friends, and very few ponies want another chance at life, for whatever reason. The issue of needing to find two ponies that are compatible with each other just makes it worse."
That is quite the problem, should we need to recruit more ponies underneath this contract, and I know that there can't be many of these ponies left. Luna brought up a very simple answer to the problem, but one she fully expected to get rejected. "Why not change it to volunteers, then? Surely there would be many ponies jumping at the chance to serve."
"I am unsure if we want this contract going out to the public, Lulu."
"How about," Heartstrings interjected, "Minuette and I, as well as the existing contracted ponies, search for suitable candidates on our own time? While recruits would trickle in very slowly, you can be sure that they'd be of exceptional quality, get along well with others, and you wouldn't have to devote your own time into searching the small pool of available ponies. Of course, compatibility may be an issue between ponies due to the slow recruitment speed, but that's unavoidable."
Celestia look over at Luna, frowning slightly. "Should we, Lulu? Faust knows we're busy enough trying to hold the fort here, and this would remove an enormous responsibility away from us."
"I think no reason to counter Heartstring's proposal with something else."
With a nod, Celestia unrolled the second scroll, and began writing down a revised commandment onto it with magical ink, a rare commodity that was just as dangerous as it was rare, if handled improperly. "Then let us move onto the next rule. That requires some attention."
2. Ponies under this contract do not talk about the contract.
Celestia pointed back up at commandment one. "It contradicts revised commandment one."
Luna nodded slowly. "Erase it, the commandment does not need to exist any longer."
"Objections?" As Minuette and Heartstrings shook their heads, Celestia crossed out the second rule. "Very well. Next!"
3. The duties of ponies under the contract include, but are not limited to, protecting Equestria, protecting the Elements of Harmony, and to protect the Princesses, in order of importance. Contracted ponies may break off their obligations to the princesses and the Elements if they feel they threaten the safety of Equestria. In the event that two or more conflicting orders are given, a contracted pony is given the freedom of choice to choose what order they will follow, or follow their own agenda, as long as it benefits Equestria as a whole.
Shrugging, Luna sighed as her stomach grumbled. I knew I should have gotten something to eat first. I've always hated revising these things, even if I'm not the one writing the new commandments. "Doesn't really need to be changed."
"I agree, Lulu. Next!"
4. Contracted ponies have a mandatory hundred-year service, after which they are removed from service and allowed to live peacefully in 'retirement' for the rest of what would have been their natural life-span, unless there exists a problem that may cause their contract to extend well beyond the hundred-year service. They may choose to live with their partner if they wish, but they cannot speak of their time under the contract, and they do not retain the abilities blessed onto them by the princesses.
Minuette sighed, and looked up at Celestia. "I understand removing the abilities of ponies and making them unable to speak of their time underneath the contract, but what of us few that want to continue serving? I don't want to 'retire', I want to continue working for Equestria. The same could also be said for the 'mandatory' service; some ponies I've talked to just didn't like this position of power they were in, and were eagerly awaiting for their 'retirement'."
"Wait," Luna said, frowning slightly, "I am not sure why you wish to stay, Minuette, but even the royal guard changes its ponies around on a three-month basis, so why does the general idea not apply here?"
"That," Heartstrings murmured softly, "is because the royal guard is comprised of a healthy pool of hopefuls from other branches of the Equestrian military, upon which it draws from the best of the best. We do not have such an ability to do so, and this contract under revised rule one will make it extremely difficult for us to gain any new ponies. Also, I doubt you and Tia wish to 'start from scratch', as the training for these ponies would consume too much of your time."
"Hm...Very well then."
Luna tried to dissuade her sister. "I don't like it, Tia. Are you sure you wish for ponies to have the ability to leave whenever they please?"
"Above everything else, the contract is more or less made up by volunteers, Lulu. These volunteers, while trained in military exercises and the like, are not actually a part of our armed forces, and as such should not be treated as if they were. They should have the right to back out of the service if they so choose."
"...Fair enough. What of the forced lengthening of the service of ponies in the event of a problem? I can't imagine all ponies will be accepting of having their service extended like Minuette and Heartstrings."
The answer seemed fairly obvious to Minuette. "If you're going to sign underneath this contract, you had better read the fine-print, Lulu. I'd feel better if I knew my comrades wouldn't suddenly turn tail at the first sign of trouble, and there will be instances where forced service will occur."
With a sigh, Luna admitted defeat on the matter. "Very well. Let us continue."
Celestia nodded, and pointed at the last rule.
5. Ponies will be trained by the princesses and will learn various skills and abilities, as well as, but not limited to, increased magical output, increased flight stamina, increased strength, increased endurance, various techniques to defend oneself, reconnaissance, mental resistance to probing of the mind, and the ability to blend into the background without getting noticed.
Celestia immediately began rewriting the rule already, without consulting with the others. "In regards to rule five and because of the point brought up in rule four, I believe that it will be fair if I dictate most of the training to the current 'veterans', while Luna and I will personally teach the new recruits the more advanced techniques that you may have difficulty with."
Minuette nodded slowly. "That sounds fair."
"Well, then. We have finished revising the five...Well, now four commandments, and now I just have to sort through all this legal stuff, so you may leave, all of you."
Taking up on her offer, Minuette and Luna promptly left the council room to catch up on old times with one another.
Heartstrings, however, stayed, and looked down past the rest of the legal jargon that made up the old contract, smiling at the last sentence of the old contract.
If you have accepted the rules above and understand the penalties of disobeying them without putting Equestria's well-being up first, congratulations, you are now a 'Background Pony'.
Background ponies, ready to serve.