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Ponies, as most herd creatures, often do social activities and functions together. Not just parties and other fun venues, but also the mundane necessities of life. Taxes, chores, and random monster attacks are all drudged through with mixed enthusiasm. Done almost monthly are hoof trims and cleaning, no exceptions.This means you, Dash.
Ponyville never had an expert that set up shop for them. The spa was mostly for touch ups, but the town usually had to wait for the mayor to hire somepony out of town to visit for a week. Then Lero showed up and nothing changed. Then Lero started to work for the spa and nothing changed. Then the mayor got her hooves done by Lero and everything changed.
Lero was quickly put in charge of a hoof maintenance job. No, they did not ask him. Mayor Mare held a conference, gave him a plaque, and threw him back into the masses. Such was life among ponies, when they find you did a job well it will define you.
“Rainbow, what are you doing?”
“Mentally preparing myself for this.” Rainbow stood upright. Her forelegs outstretched to match her impressive wings on full display. Full deep breaths allowed peace to flow throughout her body. To overcome any challenge required a sharp, peaceful mind that was in full control of its cognitive abilities.
“NOPE!”
“Dang it Dash, I know where you live!” Lero yelled out the window as he shook his tools at the fleeing figure of his wife. “Aloe, send in my next customer.”
Lero sat down in his soft faux leather chair as he waited for whoever it was. He bounced off his seat when an eardrum shattering voice greeted right next to him. “Hi Mr. Belphone! I mean Mr. Mulchalide. Er, Mr. Lero.”
“Sweetie Bell. Nice to hear your lovely voice again.” Lero said, not that he could hear himself.
“Thanks! I brought Rarity with me.” Sweetie squeaked as her older sister closed the door behind them. It was policy that an older family member attended with the younger pony. It was like a visit to the dentist only with less drills and pulling of teeth. Dash hates both.
Sweetie hopped up Lero’s work table with a little help from Rarity. “It is lovely to see you Mr. Michaelides.” Rarity gave a side glance to Sweetie Bell who blushed. “I see Rainbow Dash couldn’t help herself. Down to business, I want her hooves trimmed precisely to these measurements.”
A piece of paper floated to his outstretched hand. Despite the very detailed instructions that Twilight would have approved of, Rarity began to dictate anyway. “I would like a new measurement of her hoof circumference for all four of them. Only trim off three milimeters off the top with with a point one percent grade medial. Apply one milliliter of this softener on her frogs--”
Lero let the client ramble on as he started to work. The first task after removing the shoes was cleaning the hooves. Part of the reason he got this job was he could reach into the little nooks and crannies and feel for any dirt and cracks. He learned quickly the Cutie Mark Crusaders had the worst hooves in all of Equestria.
“Lint, mud, sap, sap, more sap.” Lero started to list out loud in monotone. “Gold dust, cup cake icing, my dignity…”
“Tut, tut my dear Lero. You are doing a fabulous job given the circumstances.” Rarity added a little drop of disappointment with that word before she continued. “She could take better care of her hooves.”
“Hey Lero, can you rub that part of my frog again. That felt nice.” Sweetie Bell whispered to him in a hushed tone.
Rarity cleared her voice. “Sweetie Bell, it is unladylike to beg.”
“Sorry!”
Lero sighed as shined the last hoof. “It’s fine. I got everything and it looks good as new. You bought a package deal Ms. Rarity so please go out into the mud bath.”
“Thank you. Come along Sweetie.” Rarity picked up her sister and placed her down next to her. “We have a long day together and I plan to enjoy this sister’s day out.”
“Have a good day Mr. Lero!” Sweetie quickly dashed up to his leg and nuzzled him. “You did a really nice job.” She galloped back to Rarity’s side. “I can see why you say he makes you feel like a lady.”
Rarity sucked a quick breath in as she mumbled. “Sister, what we write in our journal is private.”
“But that was the least naughty thing you wrote about him.” Rarity froze as her sister walked ahead. Lero raised an eyebrow as the most fashionable and certainly most ladylike pony in all of Equestria merely laughed away the preposterous accusation. The door being slammed shut was not an action done out of a failed attempt to keep up an unshakable bravado.
“This only started to be a problem when this job happened.”
“Gee, it’s like the monkey has problems with his super important job. Can’t handle all the love and admiration that goes with it?” Lero turned around to face the scowl of Honeydew.
“You don’t usually get your hooves done by me.” Lero said carefully, not aware if a mean prank was about to happen.
“Normally, I would tell you to keep your stinking paws off me you da--”
“Hands. Finish that sentence and I will turn you away.” Lero crossed his arms and matched her scowl.
“Fine. I have an emergency.” Honeydew lifted her left hind leg to reveal a badly chipped hoof. “An accident caused this and I don’t have time to go out of town.”
Lero dusted off his table and motioned her to get on. “Let’s make this quick then.”
Honeydew jumped up the table with a quick flick of her tail. “Do it right for your wellbeing.”
He took the hoof into his hand and studied it. Like any farmer, it was worn from constant hard work. Heavy shoes left deep impressions from repeated use. A thin fracture line wiggled from the bottom of her hoof to the top. Old and impacted dirt and seeds from many years of work created a wall of debris. “I need to clean the area first so don’t squirm too much. I also need to see your magic flow.”
“Fine.” Honeydew huffed as she drew magic down into that hoof. A fine faint glow enchased the inside of her hoof as Lero started to work his magic. The professional applied even pressure for deep tissue penetration. “Eep.”
She resisted the urge to tense up as her magic became putty in his hands. Heat rushed to her legs as Honeydew felt the core of her being tested. A quick swipe of his index finger caused her to gasp as her cheeks flushed.
“Going to apply your magic to the area so it can heal faster.” Lero said as he pushed her essence towards the area.
“Y-you can d-do that!?” Honeydew squeaked out.
“Earth pony magic can do that and my training helps me use it for the treatment.” Lero pushed his fingers into her hoof as it started to mend itself. Honeydew screamed as her leg kicked out and knocked Lero back into his chair.
Honeydew stood up as she took quick deep breaths and a scarlet red blush to match. “T-that’s enough.”
“Honeypot, what are--”
“It’s Honeydew!!! It has always been Honeydew. What is so hard about my name!? You say something different every time.” Honeydew looked at her mended hoof and huffed. “Did something right. You got lucky.”
She stomped out of the room as Lero sighed. He took out a rag and started to clean his work table. “I can never figure out why she is so angry with me. Earth ponies are hard to work on.”
Aloe called out to him from beyond the door. “Your next appointment is here!”
“Already!? Who is it now?”
“Hello my favorite human.” Celestia swept out her wings as she entered. A sunbeam radiated from the open window as it illuminated her presence. A golden glow made her divinity all the more apparent as her living rainbow hair flowed.
“Oh come on!” Lero facepalmed as the princess sat on the table delicately. As delicate one her size could anyway. “You have your own personal hoof trimmer. Why are you here?”
“Steel Fist took the day off and I was a little curious.” Celestia smiled brightly.
Lero readjusted his posture into an upright position. “Right, so what is he doing?”
“Oh Fist came with me so she can see your ‘art’ as she calls it.” Celestia gestured to the bulky minotaur that poked her head into the door. Her horns plowed through the walls as the biggest minotaur in existence strode into the room. Her every step shook the building.
“I want to see your fingers sing to me little ‘taur! I expect a grand performance! Then you will have the honour of doing me next!”
“This job…” Lero silently prayed for deliverance.
“Then I take you for dinner where I will woo you with tales of the glorious war games of my people!”