“No! Absolutely not!” Starlight Aura stared at her husband, alarmed by his suggestion.
“But this could be a great opportunity! Think of what we can do for Static with the extra money!” Silver Spark sighed, “I want to do my best for you both.”
“I don’t want you going anywhere near that place! I’ve heard things, rumours – something isn’t right there!”
“Jobs at the Rainbow Factory are incredibly prestigious!”
“That doesn’t matter to me!” She took a step towards him and nuzzled him gently, “What matters is that you’re here for what’s important, like sitting by me after a long day, or reading to Static before she goes to sleep. Those things are worth more than money, Silver.”
He kissed his wife softly on the forehead, “Are you sure you don’t want me to go for this promotion?”
“I’m certain. You’ll do more good for Static by being here for her than you will away at some demanding job. I’ve heard that the people who work there don’t even leave the factory! That’s not the life I want for us, I want us all together as a family. Static needs a father, not a pile of money!”
Silver Spark always became apprehensive when money was mentioned. Cloudsdale appeared to be a gleaming, exemplary city, but all cities have their underprivileged areas. You couldn’t buy much on a factory worker’s wage, and Silver Spark had grown up knowing he was part of the underclass.
His father had also been a factory mechanic, and had always lived in this district – largely ignored by the pegasus elite. The working class life was all Silver Spark had known before he entered Flight School. There he had met his future love. Starlight Aura had come from quite an affluent family, and had mixed with the kinds of ponies who looked down on the lower classes. When she married him, she sacrificed a lot. She was cut out of the will by her own parents, disowned by friends and family alike.
No matter how many times she told him that she did it for love, he always felt guilty for taking that life away from her, and he wished that he could give her the opulent lifestyle she deserved.
Starlight knew that their finances bothered him, “I’m happy like this.” She whispered reassuringly, “We’ve always managed before.”
Silver Spark paused, his eyes suddenly filled with worry, “You know, I’m quite good at what I do, I wouldn’t be surprised if they came to me and offered me it . . .”
She smiled at her husband, “Then just politely decline, they can’t force you to work there!”