The nobles did it again, a normally joyous event had been turned incredibly sour. A mere week after her coronation a single letter from the collective high lords of the courts (both solar and lunar, her own arcane court had yet to gain any nobles as she had simply refused to appoint any. Because, why hold court if you had been allowed to live atleast a single lifetime normally. Or atleast as normal as it could be for a young alicorn) had found its way to her library.
To H.R.H Princess Twilight Sparkle
Your highness, first of all we, the high lords of Equestria, would like to yet again congratulate you on your ascension and your appointment as secondary heir to the throne.
However, it came to our notice that you as of yet have not been courted or having been seen engaging in a proper relationship with another in the romantic meaning. And we all agreed on that in order to further establish your reputation and political strength that you should be at any times be seen and supported by an equal at all times.
Naturally we of noble blood see it as our duty to assist our glorious nation and in that same aspect its rulers. In order to achieve this aid we are informing you that we are invoking the consort act conform the 477th title and its respective article`s 23 jc 27.
According to this act you are to take a consort / life-mate to be chosen from a selection of candidates selected by the house of high lords.
Included in this letter you will find a list with candidates we have selected. We are looking forward to hear whom you have selected to meet in order to give your final choice.
In expectancy of your answer.
Grand vizier of the high lords chamber
H.R.H.
Prince Blueblood
It had been that letter that had brought her back to the palace once more. But even Celestia could not aid her with this. For every few centuries she too had been submitted to this ritual. But she would not go down without a fight. She wasn't some two bit taillifter they could just use for their own pleasure. She had bested deranged spirits, went head to head with Nightmare Moon. And now they were just assuming she would roll over and accept this? No, they would have another thing coming to them.
“So Celestia?” She could still not get used to calling her mentor by her first name like that without her title. “If i'm understanding this correctly I can only chose from candidates they have selected for me?” A nod was the reply, Celestia had learned that when Twilight was having a brainwave it was best not to interrupt too much no matter how curious she might be about the exact course of thought.
“And of course as normal nobles, they have completely discarded my own personal tastes and picked only stallions. And all from their own little circle. I know a high lord can select more than one candidate. But the act does not specifically state on how the selection goes. Am I limited to their list? “
The alabaster alicorn smiled a bit, she could see where her student was going. But she was curious on how she was going to approach this. These hardplots were not easily fooled by a halfwit scheme.
“No, they just have to select a pony explicitly for you. It can be vocal, written or by a mere gesture. As long as they are selected it does not matter.”
A small smile crept on the young mare`s face. She could work with this, she just had to pull a fast one on those stuffy old stallions. She had came out of the closet as a fillyfooler to her family and mentor years ago after she had been caught in bed with one of the castle`s maids during a particularly heavy heat season. So her following words were of no surprise to the older mare.
“You wanted to invite the kindest of those on the list. I say lets invite to most selfish, pompous and arrogant stallions on there. And we should make sure that each of these stallions have the authority to select a candidate. But, we are not going to pick from them. No, they will bring other candidates with them far more suited for me without even knowing it.”
A large smirking grin was replacing Twilight's smile. A grin that actually freaked Celestia out a bit, she had only seen it a few times. It was Twilight's own special brand of a mischievous grin and it was usually followed by utter chaos in the castle.
“I am going to be exactly what they expect of a commoner being crowned princess. Like a needy, bratty and petty little cretin. So in order to 'woe' me they have to give me a personal maid from their own household. One they would think would suit me the best. And of course, in order to decide who brought me the best maid I will need to have a private conversation with her. Knowing how most of them think, I can say with a 86,93% certainty that they will think that I will select the one who offers me the best maid and will not realise that they are actually presenting me with a secondary set of candidates.”
A set of candidates that would most likely be more to her tastes in both gender and general personality. Looking at her mentor still smiling and grinning Twilight could see the approval glinstering in Celestia's eyes. But her exact thoughts were unreadably hidden behind her maternal smile like always.
'It seems my little Twilight has finally grown up and is starting to show her true potential. Still a bit socially awkward, but if this doesn't turns out as she planned it then I believe those foals would think twice about trying to use her to their own advantage.
“Well then, it seems that we have some sorting to do then?”
~~~~
One week later:
The invitations had been send. Writing them in a flowing and almost sugary sweet manner had done something Twilight had never thought to be possible; making her almost physically sick from looking at a quill and inkwell. The fine parchment, the expensive and very rare ink should have been a treat to work with as they had been intended to be when they were given to her right after her coronation. But even now a week later she still could not bear the sight of the tools.
On a brighter note, her friends would be arriving in Canterlot that night. Both for showing support and to assist in the upcoming wedding. Atleast she would not have to endure one of those gaudy and over the top weddings the nobles normally had. Although, with Pinkie in charge of the reception one could never be sure about what would happen.
But for what she had to do now there could be no help. She had to do this herself. From nearly a 100 candidates she and Celestia had selected ten high lords from the most self-imposed and arrogant houses. And just as expected they had shown up with big splendor and completely oblivious to the true intent of the maid request.
The first conversation had been tedious. He had been a young stallion many would consider to be handsome. But his personality had more in common with a sewer then the looker he appeared. He even had tried to go against the schedule Twilight had drafted for the conversations. A simple five steps. Introduction, evaluating of worth and property, why she should choose him, question round and a small talk with the maid. Five simple steps, and he could not even follow those!
In a flare of utter arrogance he had opted to her bedroom so he could show her why he should be chosen in a really personal method as the SECOND thing that came out that cesspool he called a mouth.
The other eight she had spoken so far were equally unpleasant to speak with. All of them full of themselves and could not stop a single moment tooting their own horns as Applejack would say. I have a networth of this, I own this, I am important because..... Not a single compliment about her own appearance, or a simple and how are you today. The maids had been no better! It was as if they had selected the most dimwitted and slavish mares they could have find. For the creator's sake one had a slave-collar as a cutiemark! Her talent was being absolutely obedient.
Nine down, and only one left and that was the one she expected the least from. He was old enough to be her grandfather, and most likely would bring a ripened maid with him as he was known to like the more mature type. Maybe she should just pick slavegirl. She was about her own age and decent enough looking. And besides things would be nice and quiet in the library with such a mare and she wouldn't be bothered by her to much while studying. And who knows, perhaps beneath that layer of slavish attitude there could actually be a real pony hidden.
The opening of the door snapped her out of her thoughts. The elderly stallion walked into the small office she had been using. Dressed fancy with a expensive looking jacked and tophat Syruptongue (that is Lord Syruptongue to you) eased himself into the office. Showing every sign of his 135 years in the almost painful looking movements. With a soft beckon he waved the maid he was bringing into the office. A complete breach of rules as they state that the talks between princess and candidates must be one on one. But anything she would have said died in her mouth as the maid walked in.
A young mare, maybe a year younger or older than Twilight herself. A soft grey coat maybe a few shades darker than that of Ponyville`s mailmare and a body with nice and well defined curves, a long blue mane and a very well kept tail so dark it was close to black gleamed a little bit in the candlelight. All in all a vision to behold, but what really made the whole package complete were the deep purple batlike wings and the golden yellow eyes with slitted pupils that Twilight found herself almost drowning in. She just hoped this mare would leave soon so she could see the plot of this vision of loveliness swaying itself out the room.
A deep almost rumbling chuckle got Twilight`s attention back to reality and away from her ponified wet dream. Had he known she had a thing for a somewhat exotic appearance? Had he brought a thestral because he wanted to impress with that? She feared now more than ever that she had just given away her entire plan with her starring.
“Don’t worry your highness. I may be old, but i’m not senile yet. I’ve been around those brownnosers who call themselves nobles and courtiers for a long time. My appearance in court is mostly an act, when your enemy thinks you to be one of their own they forget to strike hard.
And i`ve been amongst them long enough to recognize a clever scheme when I see one. And judging by your gawking I think I was both right and need to tip my informant a whole lot better as he was dead on when describing your tastes.”
Again he chuckled loudly due the flustered look on Twilight's face.
“I knew those so called 'high nobles' only care about themselves. So I wrote my own name down as candidate. Simply because I am nearing my own end and selfishly thought that maybe a few years with an old coot would be better than a lifetime with a strapping youngster with the personality of a garbage disposal. But then I read the part of bring the maid who would become your personal servant should I choose you. Clever girl, very clever. I can see Celestia's confidence in you is very well placed. To bad that I will not be around when you do finally decide to hold court. What a spectacle that would be.”
The elder stallion laughed a bit more before walking towards the door and continue his little monologue. “But don't let me bother you any longer. This is Pleasant Dreams, one of my great grandson`s maids. I’ve selected her not only because I knew her appearance would appeal to you. But also because I believe that from all of our staff she deserves a chance of a real life. Please take good care of her should you choose her.” That said he closed the door behind him. Leaving Twilight alone with the now apparently blushing thestral more and more than a little puzzled.
Walking over to the small table and motioned for the other mare to sit down on the other side while pouring a cup of tea for the both of them. The silence did not last long as a silky smooth but with a obvious shy touch pierced it. “So euhm, old master Syruptongue said that I was going to meet my new owner. Are, are you my new mistress?”
There had been a subtle undertone, a few years back she would have missed it. The way she said it was off. And it made Twilight a little bit uncomfortable. What exactly did she mean with owner?
She could focus on that later. Right now she had something more important to do. This mare, although her apart servitude demeanor had something about her.
“Well technically should this talk work out I would be neither your owner nor your mistress. But that is something for later. You think you can answer a few questions for me?”
A gentle nod came from the mare. It was obvious that she had been trained to be as silent as possible. Her posture and whole attitude breathed the same aura as Fluttershy. Remain in the background, remain unseen and no pony would take offense to you and no pony would take advantage of you.
“Please, there is no need for this formal attitude. If anything i’d prefer it if you would just be yourself. Well then lets get this show on the road. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I have lived almost my entire life here in canterlot. First with my parents and later in the castle as princess Celestia's protogé. A few years ago I moved out on my own to a quint little village named Ponyville where I studied the magic of friendship and run the local library with my assistant Spike. Recently i've ascended to alicornhood and was crowned secondary heir princess and have been appointed the arcane court but i've been allowed to live a single lifetime relatively normal before needing to really pick up my duties. I like reading, studying, astronomy and doing things with my friends. My special talent is magic in general. My dream is to someday create a whole new field of magic.
Now how about you? Please tell me something about yourself. Like who you are, what your talents are and your dreams?”
The thestral remained silent for a moment. Her eyes closed in thought. Twilight could swear she saw the beginning of a tear. But before she could ask if everything was alright the mare opened her eyes. The golden yellow orbs had been watery and filled with anger, hatred and fear where they would normally should show happiness and contentment.
“The caretakers at the cloudsdale orphanage said that the mare who brought me in claimed my name to be Sanguine Rose, because of my appearance I guess. I later learned that this mare had been my grandmother. Both my parents had died a few days before in a accident in the weather factory. The resident nurse however disagreed with the name and after scanning my potential in the intake renamed me to Pleasant Dreams. I’ve lived there until I was 11 and was prepared to take on the roll of a maid like all other attending mares. I've only had one real friends, one orphan but she passed on, if the rumors are true she had been pushed of a cloud during a visit to Cloudsdale. And as for friends on the outside? It was usual for the headmistress to destroy letters to and from orphans. Something about being a frivolous distraction to the outside world. I was sold to house Syruptongue after earning my cutiemark due being made a full mare by an orderly during my first heat to be a companion for the young master. My talent is bringing comfort and relaxation during the night. My main method of passing time when not serving the young master or his friends is reading and writing. My dream is to be my own mare and publishing a foalbook with bedtime...... Why are you looking at me like that?”
Truth be told, Pleasant Dreams voice had been cold and near emotionless as she recited her tale. It had been the voice of somepony who had resided into their fate and generally given up. Only at the very end there had been a trace of the warmth and gentleness Twilight had heard when she had spoken the first time. Halfway through the story Twilight had to quite literally force herself to remain silent and still, and not to rush to her conversation partner to engulf her in a hug and tell her that all would be well. It was because she knew it would never be well, they had taken her entire foalhood from her and turned her into a mere toy for some spoiled brat. She now understood why lord Syruptongue had said that this mare deserved a chance at a real life. Her desire to simply comfort the mare and the anger about the injustice done were showing in her eyes very clearly and without knowing she had been staring quite rudely.
With a sheepish grin and a very flustered look Twilight tried to compose herself a bit. “Sorry, about that. It’s just that i’m a bit shocked that somepony would treat another like that. And I intend to do something about it.” Twilight could swear she heard a muttered 'yeah right' coming from across the table. It made her suppress a slight giggle, it seemed that beneath that servile appearance there was a real personality after all. And a feisty one at that. That should make things a bit interesting if anything.
“So, well If you answer me truthfully, and I mean answer what you think and not what you think I want to hear, we can be out of this stuffy office within a few moments. You've mentioned that you want to be your own mare. Most likely there would be a special somepony in the future. If yes, would this be mare or stallion? “
Dreams thought for a moment, she had never really thought about that really. She did not want to admit it flat out, but the prospect of being alone frightened her. So finding that special pony would be nice. But how did she picture him? A stallion? A shudder went through her spine, no not after those 'friends' of young master Syruptongue. But being with a mare? She could try, she knew from a hug here and there from her old friends and co-workers that it often did feel good. But why was this Twilight asking her this? What could that mare possibly have to gain from this knowledge? Then again what had she herself to lose? So taking a deep breath she started to speak. Stammering a bit she managed to get her thoughts into actual words.
“I’ve never really thought about it. A mare I think. They are often gentler in spirit then stallions and they are a lot softer and cuddlier.” Her voice trailed off a bit at the end as a blush appeared.
She however had not seen the hopeful smile on Twilights face. For once she had heard the mare`s tale Twilight had no intention to simply force her to become her consort. Once she laid the deal open, it had to be of her own free will. And her being atleast interested in being with another mare gave the new princess hope that the exotic cutie could accept the deal. But one thing had to be asked. Something more important than the consort deal, types, crushes or even something as important as favorite books.
“Should you ever be truly free, will you try and live your life or will you seek vengeance to what has been done?”
Not taking any chances Twilight grabbed a her tea to take a sip in order to hide the lie-detection spell she was channeling.
And luckily the answer was what she wanted to hear. And it had been the absolute truth.
“Life, vengeance may be sweet. But more than anything I just want a peaceful life.”
Smiling she deactivated her spell and let the not empty cup float back to the table.
“I see. Well then I thank you for your patience and honesty. I have no further questions. Only a offer of which I hope you would accept.”
Pleasant Dreams looked straight into Twilight's eyes at the mention of an offer. Her golden eyes had a piercing gaze to them, the slit like pupils narrow. They spoke what she did not say herself. Explain yourself, what kind of offer?
“To understand my offer I need to tell a bit of history behind our meeting. The reason I asked for the nobles wishing to court me to bring a maid is simple. They have invoked a law that forces me to marry one of them. To make one of them my consort, and thus my equal in power. This law makes it so that I cannot choose freely. I can only choose one from a selection made by them. So naturally in their own bid for power they only selected themselves.
But I know they may select as many as they please. And by playing on their own arrogance I made sure to blind them with their own scheme. By bringing a maid they have chosen from their own household to be my personal servant should I choose him I have bypassed their little selection.”
A small and justified smirk adorned Twilights face as she spoke about the nobles stupidity and their willingness to fall for such a simple ruse.
“Because only the elderly lord Syruptongue noticed that by doing what I asked they selected another for me to choose from. A secondary selection more to my own personal liking. Between you and me I never really understood what`s so great about stallions anyway. And that brings me to my offer.”
From the vase on the edge of the room Twilight levitated a single deep lavender rose, a flower colored exactly like her own coat.
“From the 10 high nobles I had invited I had 20 candidates and 20 conversations. Out of all of them, you are the only one who even remotely answered me truthfully and without fear or attempted to butter me up by brown nosing or acting all important. Will you take this flower from me, and with it my hoof in marriage. I know it is not true freedom as you would be bound to me. But you must believe me when I say that I would do everything in my power to make sure you would live a happy and relatively normal life. No more having to work as a maid, no master taking advantage of you. If you find me to be undesirable as a mate I can look the other way if you are discreet about.”
Twilight could not finish her rant-like plea as two lips found their way to her own, doing a good job at closing her mouth and silencing her in a swift motion. And just as quickly it began the kiss ended.
“I’m no fool your highness, I would never be free unless I pass into the next realm. Pegasi of the thestralthese aviannes type are rare, mares even more so. So even if I would run away, it would take a day at most for them to find me and bring me back. And think about this for a second; given the choice between a slave`s life and a golden cage. The choice is not that hard, the lesser of evils right?.”
The mare smiled a bit before speaking again, not really seeing the flash of hurt in Twilight`s eyes at those words.
“And besides, i’m servicing somepony either way. And if even half the stories i’ve heard and read about you and your friends are true. Then i’d rather willingly give myself to you then to be forced to service my former master.”
As the rose levitated over to Pleasant Dreams and gently nestled itself behind her right ear Twilight spoke.
“I am sorry, maybe in time we can grow closer. But I would be honored if we atleast could be friends Pleasant Dreams.”
The thestral circled around Twilight a moment to be able to look her in the eyes.
“Friends?” A downtrodden look came to her face, but yet she still was able to crack a smile. “I think I can do that. Just lets take things slow ok? Neither of us knows the other and well nothing good ever comes rushed or free.”
Not being able to look at the purple princess anylong she turned her gaze away. “And please, if we are to make this work then call me Dream. No use in using my full name all the time right?”
“I guess so Dream, But only if you agree to keep titles out of things and just call me Twilight. But enough talk for now. Lets see a winning smile for right now in the next room there are about a few nobles waiting on our conversation to end and for me to to make my decision known.”
Moments later the two mares had found their way to the room next door. Of course after waking the sleeping elder outside their the little office. They only received a gentle smile which only grew when Twilight told him to send in his last request ( a modest request asking for funding for some kind of festival), because she was certain that he would find all the support he needed. Because she knew that a favor is never free of charge in the noble-circles.
But that smile and approving attitude would not be seen with the others.
They had agreed to do this the traditional way. Twilight wanted to because that is simply how the rules worked, Dream just wanted to see the look on their faces when they realised that she had taken their prize.
The moment Twilight had entered the bomb had burst. All nine nobles had started asking her who the choice had been at nearly the exact same time. Only to start arguing amongst themselves.
Only one other besides Twilight and the maids, who were lining the furthest most wall, was silent as well; Princess Celestia. Who in her own right simply stood there waiting to see how Twilight was going to handle this, as if it was nothing more than just another test. But it would never be known that she was ready to step in at any time. She could do little to stop this law, but she would be damned if they would ruin her daughter student further in their schemes.
“SILENCE!” The young mare`s voice carried itself across the room. Its effects were immediate as the bickering fel still.
“Now I know you all anxious to hear my decision. But I can tell you now. All of the offers of those who are in this room have been declined.” Twilight held up a hoof to indicate that she was not done talking. Knowing that this little tidbit would set them off into a rant again.
“And no, Lord Syruptongue was also not the one I selected.” A swift motion with her hoof was all she needed to signal one of the guards to open the door which in turn had been the signal she had agreed upon with Pleasant Dreams. Who in her own right merely trotted into the room with the rose prominently featured in her mane just behind the ear.
“Gentlecolts, it is my privilege and honor to introduce to you my bride to be: Pleasant Dreams.”
The nobles present had no time to stir up any sort of trouble as Twilight smirked and started to slip into what her friends had all dubbed: Lecture-mode.
“And the nice thing is, there is absolutely nothing you can do against it. The selection has been legitimately made by you. For have you or have you not each selected a maid specifically for me? And as per my request, have not each and every one of them has been approved by the elder of your house? And I have had a private conversation with each of them? Hence according to the same clause of the consort-act that you use to stake your claim on my hoof they have been legally selected by your houses and thus open for me to choose from. Further more, according to that very same act. No house may revoke a own selection nor oppose a rival selection once the indicated princess has made her own selection from the houses presented to her. The law however does not state that a house cannot add to the selection stemming from them. Neither does it state that the afore mentioned candidates have to be of noble descent or having to be from the opposite gender. Nor does it specify on how a candidate is selected or presented, it merely states that the initial introduction and selection has to be done by either the reigning lord or a direct representative of a high house. Therefore the selection procedure and the outcome is perfectly legal.”
The nobles had not been pleased by having their plot thwarted like that and have the potential power and influence that came with having a prince-consort in their families slipping through their hooves. No, they were not pleased at all. The moment Twilight had started whispers and talk began about boycott of the wedding and the couple, starting a slandercampaign.
In their outrage they forgot Celestia was also in the room. Who was smiling from seeing her student turning the noble`s own rules against them like that, but she feared that she needed to take drastic steps if they were actually going through with their plans. As pesky and self absorbed as they were, they also controlled nearly 50% of all of the country's finances and major companies. They could do a lot of damage in their pettiness. Twilight on the other hoof stood more closely to Pleasant Dreams, to show the mare that there was nothing to fear, and to have a little bit of comfort herself.
As the murmurs and whispers started to grow into real shouts of outrage it was Twilight's voice that cut straight through them just before Celestia herself wanted to step in. No longer the sweet and lecturing one she had before. It had been colder than a Wendigo’s heart and more piercing claws on chalkboard. Her voice calm and soft but was clearly heard by all present.
“Listen to me, and listen well. If you do anything, anything at all to thwart this I will make sure you rue the day you ever agreed on this silly little plan of yours. Remember, you are not dealing with kind Celestia, who’ll chastise you like a mother would do to a misbehaving foal and then proceed to forget the whole incident. Neither are you dealing with charming and artistic Luna who can sway whole crowds with her speeches, nor are you trying to hurt sweet and gentle Cadence who’s able to play on all ponies heartstrings with a mere smile.”
“You will be dealing with me. A trice awarded national hero and highly accomplished scholar. Try something and I will personally make sure that the media will know what you were doing when Nightmare Moon and Discord were rampaging, I’ll whisper in their ears where they can find the files on the ongoing corruption investigation in the guard and how they relate to not having enough stationed in many districts while being present en masse in the districts where you live. Maybe they`ll find a letter on their doorstep the next day describing in detail on how you treat employees, bribe inspectors looking into this and how to prove these accusations. Now tell me, what would they think to be more interesting. That? Or the tale on how the recently crowned princess declined you're forced attempts of courtship in favor of a maid while its general knowledge to many in this castle what my preferences are?”
The silence after her little rant had been so thick that one could cut it with a knife. No word had been spoken but the look eyes of many of the present nobles was speaking more than anything else. Fear, undiluted fear. You did not have to be an expert at body language to see what was on their minds. They had expected to simply bully her into complying with their wishes. They had expected her to cower like a little foal. Because they were the 'elite' of society, and they could make things very difficult for anypony.
They however, in a flair of arrogance, had not even thought about even asking around for the slightest rumor or even a tiny bit of knowledge regarding their target and they would have known how bad their idea was.
Yes, she was prone to panic attacks and the occasional OCD attack. But if there was anything they could not have missed it would be her tendency to research nearly everything related to the problem she needed to solve.
And right now, they had been the problem needing to be solved.
It was Celestia who broke the silence. “Now then, now this is solved my presence is required elsewhere. Twilight, miss Dreams could you please follow me we have to finalise the details concerning your upcoming status. Gentlecolts, I trust you can let yourself out.”
Trotting out the room both mares followed the larger Alicorn leaving the still speechless nobles behind. It was not until they were well underway to whatever destination Celestia had in mind that Twilight felt a soft silky object gentle stroking her sides. Not invasive, it had resembled something like a gentle poke. Looking up a bit she saw Pleasant Dreams withdrawing one of her batlike wings and looking at her a bit uncomfortable. But before Twilight could ask what was wrong the Thestral spoke up herself.
“Listen, I just wanted to apologize for my previous behavior.”
This statement only got a puzzled from the other mare. But she would not allow the mare to get a hoof in. She had both seen and heard enough to know that once Twilight was getting on a roll she’d be talking for quite a while and was nigh impossible to interrupt.
“I unjustly took out my frustration of my own situation out on you. I never once thought about how you felt about all of this. You didn't deserve the coldness i’ve shown you as you are as much in the same boat as me. Could we, you know. Start over. A fresh start?”
She never got further as she felt two fuzzy legs drawing her in a embrace. “Of course I forgive you silly. You’ve been through a lot from what I could gather of what you told me. And having this sprung on you is not the most pleasant for anypony.”
As Twilight released she chuckled a bit remembering what happened.
“Just ask Spike on how I reacted. I just hope that my writing desk is ok, i`m kind off attached to it. Afterall it was nearing terminal velocity when it left the library.”
As Pleasant Dreams felt the other mare detach herself from the hug she could not help but be a little surprised. She had been rude, cold and rather unpleasant from the moment she had opened her mouth to this mare. And yet she was still forgiven so easily.
But their little moment came to an end as somepony cleared her throat to get their attention. Princess Celestia had been observing the whole ordeal and the longer she watched the more honest her smile had become. “It is good to see that the two of you try and avoid potential bad blood. But part of that blame falls to me. I had hoped that they would have atleast had the decency to give you your lifetime in relative normalcy.
And for the record Twilight, I forgive them. But I never forget. This little stunt will cost them dearly, they just don't know it yet. After all, somepony is going to end up paying for the additional costs that a new royal stipend creates. And speaking off stipends, I believe it is time for me to leave you in the capable hooves of Bitpusher.”
And as if it was a cartoon and the gold-colored stallion`s cue-sign had gone up, he appeared from a door on the side of the hallway. A door with the large sign 'Treasury'. The moment the stallion spoke Twilight wanted to cast a mute spell on him. The monotone nasal voice was enough to give her goosebumps. The slight shiver on her side told her that Dreams was feeling the exact same way.
“If the ladies would come with me so I can explain the exact details.”
The explanation and signing of the correct documents had been more excruciating than any of them had ever been through. And that saying a lot considering one reads law books for fun and the other had been serving a noble in the bedroom for the past eight years.
That damned treasury keeper had went on and on and on about the regulations, what it was for and how to access. Things even Twilight could have explained in a few minutes.
But worst of all, now she was stuck with a awestruck thestral staring at a small piece of paper with her mouth open and fangs showing and freaking out a lot of servants and messengers. But somewhere she could understand. One does not often hear that they will be getting 500 bits a week for the rest of their lives as spending money while ALL other primary needs such as food, a home and even clothing would be paid for from a different budget.
Twilight did not had the heart to tell her that she would be getting close to 10 times that if Twilight herself had been as old as Celestia or Luna. But at the same time she could understand, after all she was going to get more than twice the pay of that of an average job while doing nothing.