The two fillies were just finishing up their home work when Ms. Dandelion came up to let them know that dinner was ready. So the two skipped down to the dinning room. They were met by Mr. Rich's hard gaze. Narci started to ask if Silver could stay for dinner when Silver flashed her a almost terrified look,
"I'll come over for dinner some other time ok bye."
Narci watched the her new friend canter out of the dinning room and into the foyer. A moment latter the sound of door shutting found it way back into the dinning room. She couldn't understand what had prompted the filly to leave so suddenly. They had both agreed that Silver would stay for supper. Had Silver seen something that she had missed, it was very possible given her limitations. She soon found her seat and told Morning Song's apprentice, a red coated stallion named Fast Boil, what she would like on her plate. It was weird having somepony else fixing her plate but she didn't mind. Mr. Boil sat her plate down and then stepped back to await his next order.
There was something wrong, Narci could feel it. The air was thick with tension and she concluded that Mr. Rich had been informed of her early departure from school. Feeling guilty she open her mouth to come clean when Mr. Rich spoke,
"How well do you know the history of Equestria?" he asked coyly.
After taking a sip of water Narci grinned,
"I don't know a lot, but history is one of my favorite subjects."
"Well then explain to me the history of the Commonwealth of Nocturnia," he more or less ordered.
Narci suddenly felt pressured and started to quiver in her seat.
"I'm not going to hurt you. Just do as I told you." he said harshly.
Gulping Narci started to explain,
"After many years of persecution for their part in the Long Night Rebellion the Night-Pegasi went to Princess Celestia for help. The told her of their plight. No settlement, no city, no township would allow the bat ponies to settle down and raise their families. Long had they been vagabonds, beggars and nomads so the Princess in her divine wisdom granted them boon. A charter was written and the Night-Pegasi were given a large expanse of land on the east side of the Everfree Forest." She took a moment to take a drink and take a bite from her plate and then she started again.
"In the three-hundred and seventy third year after the banishment the Commonwealth of Nocturnia was born. The commonwealth is a self-governing body that resides within the boarders of her mother, Equestria. All of her citizens are technically citizens of Equestria. The citizens of Nocturnia may join the military of Equestria as well as serve in any number civil service jobs. The same cannot be said of Equestrian citizens wishing to reside and work in Nocturnia. They must obtain passports and work visas in order to cross the boarder." she finished, "Do you want me to go on?"
Smiling he politely said,
"No, that will be enough."
Letting the issue rest he allowed her to finish eating. Dinner was a quiet affair after that as the two faded into their own worlds. A while later she spoke up,
"May I be excused?"
Shooting her an angry glare,
"No we have more to discuss,"
"Ok, what do you want to talk about?" she asked nonchalantly.
"I want to talk about why you are here," he answered.
"I'm a exchange student just like your daughter."
He smirked,
"The reason you are here is because I want you here, little miss."
She inched closer to him as she giving him a confused look.
"When Ponyville was first attained approval for an foreign exchange student program there were two kids ahead of you in the line up. My daughter expressed her desire to study abroad and who was I to deny her that. However, the other two kids wouldn't benefit me."
"That selfish!" spat Narci.
He raised an eye brow at her outburst and then bolted from his chair and around the table. Before Narci could react he was behind her,
"In this world there are ponies who are happy with their station and there are ponies like me whose very life goal is to be better. The first kid was a griffon brat and the griffon nation is still dreadfully far away. I would love to spread my business into griffon lands but that for now is too ambitious a dream. The second was lovely little minotaur filly. Again her homeland was also far away for me to dare venture. And then their was you. I've been trying to break in the Nocturnian market for several years now but Equestrian law is very limiting. You my dear are my ticket to grander schemes." he said exuberantly.
His flare for the dramatic combined with his horrible glee was unnerving but despite her fear she had to know,
"What is my part to play in this-scheme and how did I get here if there were others ahead of me?"
He tousled her mane with his hoof and let out a chuckle,
"I told you that I thought you would make a great business pony one day and your nitty gritty curiosity proves it. Your part is simple in fact, I just need you to keep your nose clean. And by keeping you nose clean I mean, no more skipping school or anything like that," he said as he pulled out a letter from his coat pocket letting it fall to the table, "I don't need the Ponyville PTA complaining about you being a bad influence and in turn I don't need anything sullying my reputation. The Nocturnian revenue and business board are all set to approve the opening the first, Rich's Barnyard Bargains in Gothic City. All of this hangs on your delicate shoulders. Deal me a solid kid, and be sure to let your mommy know how much you appreciate my hospitality. I'll make it worth while."
It seemed simple enough, it was a calculative move on his part and if she did what he said she would be rewarded. Still she wondered how she had been placed ahead of the two children before her,
"You still didn't say how I was chosen ahead of those other kids."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a silk bag and chunked it on the table. It jingled with the sound of gold bits as it rolled,
"Money my dear, money can buy anything. Money can make your dreams come true," he answered as he drew closer to her ear, "Money can even pay for expensive new treatments that are far to expensive for a guard captains or a government employee's salary. Treatments that could in time, give you what you want the most- your sight."
"Really!" she gasped.
"Really, really kid. Oh, and more thing. You can't go blabbing about our deal. If anypony knows about our agreement things can get kinda ugly." he added.
"I won't tell a soul," she promised.