Next, the indigo Alicorn Princess raised her head and straightened up. “Luna. Princess of the Night. Formerly known as Nightmare Moon. Not a single night has gone by for me, that I have not felt the tremendous pain and regret, that comes from betraying one’s own sister, and corrupting oneself out of vain jealousy. My sister Celestia’s sunny days were loved and cherished by all, but my beautiful moonlit starry nights were shunned and slept through, instead of appreciated with equal relish. Or rather, that was the view I alone took of the problem. Needless to say, this led to my corruption, my transformation into Nightmare Moon to challenge my sister’s throne, and eventual banishment to the Moon for a thousand years. Since my return and redemption, at the hooves of Princess Twilight Sparkle, her Ponyville friends and the Elements of Harmony, my return to Equestrian society has been, shall we say, less than harmonious. I made a shambles of Nightmare Night, slept through the fight against the changelings at Princess Cadence’s royal wedding, and even failed to master the art of humor & jokes for the Canterlot Chuckle-Lot. Still, I have been striving ever since to make up for my shortcomings, mostly by watching over ponies while they sleep, and guarding their dreams---sometimes entering the dreams when necessary, to help them get through nightmares, by teaching them to ‘face their fears.’…”
All this time, no one seemed to want to interrupt, even though this seemed another mundane history lesson. Luna was speaking with her gaze cast down, with sad eyes and a mournful tone of voice, which seemed to command the group’s attention with rapt interest. After a pause, she continued.
“…Being a member of the royal house in Canterlot, I am fortunate to have the privilege of holding regal office. Still, from time to time, I too have tried to secure a second job in the private sector, if only to help contribute to the royal treasury where taxes alone could not. Only to run into the very same problem: the record of my past crimes counts against me as well, and disqualifies me from numerous positions.”
Now Luna raised her head, as her dark blue face bloomed into purple, particularly around the muzzle, and her eyes and voice took on a sharp edge.
“I, too, have experienced the disgrace and humiliation of being turned away at job fairs and interviews, with the eyes of other eager candidates watching me forced to hastily trot away, empty-hooved. And the embarrassment of having to fly back to Canterlot to report these same failures to my elder sibling every night. You would think my reputation as Nightmare Moon would have scared them into hiring me by royal decree! Not so. In some places, doors would SLAM in my face at the very sight of me! In other places, I would be made to wait all day long, while others were in & out in no time at all---only to be told at closing time: “Sorry, but the position has been filled.” Without so much as an interview! I ASK YOU, is THAT FAIR?? NO, I SAY! IT IS NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR AT ALL!!!” She pounded her chair with a hoof for emphasis, and trembled in suppressed rage! But, having said her peace at last, she lowered her head again, and let out a long exhale to ease her frustration.
Applause burst all around the room again! Twilight wanted to add how Luna once helped save Rarity when the spirit of Nightmare Moon possessed her instead. But seeing how the group’s time was short tonight, she chose to keep it to herself.
All this time hearing Discord and Luna’s testimonies, Rainbow Dash sat stone still, her heart racing, her blood icing over, her face beading with perspiration, and her stomach turning to lead. Suddenly her prospects of returning to a normal life after the Cloudsdale Weather Factory incident seemed bleak: “Does this mean I won’t get my old job back at the weather factory? Are the Wonderbolts going to kick me off the team? Am I ‘gonna lose my throne in the Castle of Friendship----all because of something I can't take back??? Clearly, Tank’s a lot better off than I am right now.” She started biting a hoof as she continued listening, nervously.
The testimonies continued around the room, some shorter than others. With much trepidation, Gilda Griffon confessed to committing numerous acts of “loud and uncivilized conduct" beyond the borders of Griffonstone, and as a result got turned down repeatedly for a job with the Equestrian postal service. She then recounted her bad experiences with the Mane 6 on her first trip to Ponyville, apologized for roaring at Fluttershy, for making a scene at Pinkie Pie’s welcome party, and for getting her old friend Rainbow Dash mad at her for it. “You know...it's really going against my grain to have to come clean on all of this, so don't any of you breathe a word of this beyond this room, after tonight." She then turned to her childhood schoolmate: "Rainbow Dash...If anyone was lame, it was me. I was a poor sport and a lousy prankster. And for that, I’m really sorry. But, you know...I did help Pinkie Pie to save you from the Abysmal Abyss, so I guess that makes us even, right? And...I am getting better at baking scones. I'm even thinking of opening up my very own shop in Ponyville soon! So...no hard feelings, huh Dash: first & best pal of mine?" She managed an awkward beak-smile, and extended an upturned foreclaw in Dash's direction.
At this, Dash snapped out of her daze and said, rather dismissively: “Hm, what? Oh, right…no hard feelings, Gilda…”
A subdued but polite applause followed. Everypony noted how Dash seemed completely blasé to the subject. This set off a quiet alarm-bell in the back of Twilight’s head.
Next, it was Babs Seed’s turn, who before beginning was congratulated by all (except Tirek) for finally getting her cutie mark: a pair of mane stylist scissors. Though still just a filly, and therefore technically not old enough to have a juvenile record, or to apply for a job yet, she explained, she recounted how she did give her cousin Apple Bloom and her Cutie Mark Crusader friends a hard time on her first visit to Ponyville, by siding with schoolhouse bullies Diamond Tiara & Silver Spoon---which also technically made her a bully herself. She then recounted how this was all born out of her own insecurities from being the target of neighborhood bullies herself back in Manehattan, for being a ‘blank-flank’ like the Crusaders. Anyway, she then recounted how the Crusaders saved her life in the ‘parade float incident' that followed, and how in gratitude, she turned the tables on the bullies by threatening to ‘tell der mothuhs about der bad behaviuh!’ The group shared a good-humored laugh at this. Babs summarized by saying the lesson she learned was: “…’ya don’t deal wit' bullies, by becomin' one yerself.” Polite applause followed this.
Now it was ‘the Great and Powerful’ Trixie’s turn. Groans and eye-rolls erupted all around, but were silenced with a sharp-eyed scowl from the white-haired wizard pony. (And simultaneous ones from Princesses Luna & Twilight.) In deference to the hour, she promised not to bore the group with her usual boastful recounts of the Ursa Minor incident or the Alicorn Amulet magic duel, both of which were now public knowledge. Instead she recalled the Rough Diamond burglary case, where although she was working closely with the Manehattan police, and although circumstantial evidence (plus her past record) kept pointing to her as the thief, the Mane 6 and the Crusaders vowed to stand by her and find the real culprit. She recounted how Babs was instrumental to cracking the case at last, and revealing the culprit to be a police insider. As Trixie and Babs exchanged glances from their seats, Trixie summed things up by saying: “…Thanks again, Miss Seed, for all you’ve done. Without you, Trixie would’ve been doing 10-to-20 without parole, for a crime she did not commit.” Babs returned a warm smile.
Technically again though, the stage-magic unicorn recalled bitterly, that same permanent evil record that counted against her in the jewel heist case, has also been costing her numerous show bookings in several cities & towns throughout the land--including schools, children’s hospitals and nursing homes, all of them canceled because their administrations had strict ‘zero-tolerance’ polices against hiring ex-evils, even as entertainment vendors. “Trixie’s had to make do with clients who didn't pry into her past, or by lying to other clients about having no such prior record---only to be tossed out on the street when they found her out!” Consequently, buying a house, renting an apartment, or even applying for grants or other Equestrian government aid, had all proven impossible for her. Trixie’s caravan wagon (the mark-2 replacement model after the Ponyville Ursa Minor incident) remained her only home---and the few bits she earned from uncanceled shows remained her only income---thanks to a past record that wouldn’t go away. A record Trixie wished with all her heart, she could just “make disappear” as easily as a wave of the hoof and a puff of smoke.
“Trixianna Lulamoon must agree with Discord and Princess Luna; reform has been, and continues to be, a very hard trick for this magic show pony to pull off, in front of a very tough and discriminating crowd. Still, Trixie cannot forget Miss Seed’s kind words to her, back in Manehattan…”
Babs followed Trixie’s lead, and said, in her own thick Hooflyn accent:
“Just ‘cause ‘ya done bad things once… it don’t mean yer bad forevuh.”
Cheers and applause permeated the room! Leaning from her chair, Trixie stretched out a hoof to place on Babs Seed’s own, forever grateful to her.
“Sold that one, didn’t they, Brother?” said Flim. “Indubitably.” said Flam.
“Oh, boy…” Spike groaned, “I don’t think I have enough scroll for these guys, Twilight.”
“Said the dragon who’s own song & dance routine is as bad as theirs? Just do your best…” Twilight quipped.
CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER...