POV Steam Gear
“I think you should show more respect towards the Princess,” scolded Fetch.
I will be honest here. You all remember when I said that me and Fetch hit it off from the start? That we are a well-oiled machine? Well..there was one topic we weren’t on the same opinion. Nobility and alicorns. He thought of them as graceful, beautiful and fair rulers of the land. While I myself felt quite repulsed at the thought of nobility and titles, hence the argument.
“I only asked if she had not something other to do than loitering, since we have to work,” I protested.
“You should also use her title. Even if she is not one of our Princesses, she still is a Princess and deserves respect.”
I groaned as a response. “I’m not referring to her as ‘Princess’, and neither am I going to bow to her! I already told you why!”
“Because of your jealousy,” was his flat answer.
“It is not jealousy if I’m right! Why is it that only a few selected ponies get the right to have magic, along with soft, feathery, graceful and tender wings?! I myself couldn’t live without magic, so that I would never exchange it for wings. I’m just terrible with manipulating matter with hooves! Not to mention the superior attitude most nobles express towards ponies and other creatures without titles!”
“Just because you have met one noble who acted like that doesn’t mean that all nobles act like that.”
“Believe me, Fetch. I have met quite a lot of nobles. A whole lot of them have an air of superiority and conceit around them.”
“My point still stands. You can’t just judge all nobles upon meeting some, such as Prince Blueblood, who were acting less than ideal.”
“I-I…” I sighed, before grumbling, “Doesn’t mean that I have to like the system. A democracy would be a fairer system! I just can’t understand what ponies fascinates on the idea of a monarchy or diarchy. This system just screams corruption!”
Fetch suddenly sported a sly grin. “I could try and educate you on why it is fascinating again, if you would like.”
“NO!” I shouted immediately. Afterwards I corrected myself in a slightly calmer voice, “I mean, no. I think I will pass.” Truth be told I didn’t need another of his prayers about nobility.
“Um…”
I turned to my right and stared straight into the deep purple eyes of HEART, startling me slightly, as I stumbled back to bring some distance between us. I completely forgot that she was still standing there.
“If you really want wings so badly, I could offer you to turn you into a changeling. We have a way to transfer ponies, so the wing issue could be solved,” offered HEART with a comforting smile.
My eyes lit up with fascination and excitement of this news. Well, lit up until I remembered something essential that dampened my mood faster than it would take Pinkie Pie to eat all the cakes in a bakery, and let me tell you that is FAST. A lot of innocent treats lost their life on that day. I could only pity the lost sweets on that day. It was a WAR. Or maybe even more like a massacre of sweet goodness since they didn’t even stand a chance! They couldn’t even fight back!
“What good are wings then they are missing the most important trait? Feathery goodness!” I practically shouted with an arm draped over my head in a dramatic pose. Out of the corner of our room I floated a red couch behind me to fall on it.
I found it somewhere outside. Don’t ask me who leaves a couch as bulk garbage outside in the middle of town, especially one in such a pristine condition, but it sure helps to make this workplace comfy.
Meanwhile in Ponyville Spa
“Here we are Sweetie Belle! A relaxing day in the spa! There isn’t a better method for sister bonding. You have my word!”
“If you say so, sis,” said Sweetie Belle. She was rather happy to spend her day with her sister, even though it was her sister’s time to choose an activity together. Sweetie Belle would have rather spend the day outside. However the spa sounded promising enough, and it was only fair, after she talked Rarity into hiking the other day.
“We will take the ‘Sister Bonding Special’ exclaimed Rarity towards the spa ponies, Aloe and Lotus.
“That will be 42 bits,” was Aloe’s smiling response.
Rarity then rummaged through her handbag to pay the sum. She did so for a time and was getting rather panicky after a full 20 seconds.
“Don’t tell me I forgot my pouch with the bits. Of all the worst things that could happen, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!” She whined as she proceeded to drab a foreleg across her head while letting herself fall backwards, only to meet the cold unforgiving ground.
“Where is my couch?! How can I wallow in self-pity without my couch?!” she squealed in utter agony at having the comfort of her couch being robbed by an unknown entity.
She then slowly started to twitch at the ground as foam started to form on her mouth.
Sweetie Belle personally thought that she was overdoing it again and turned her head back to the Spa Ponies again.
“Can we put it on her slate?” she asked while making big puppy dog eyes.
“But of course. Rarity is our best customer after all,” said Aloe as she smiled. Lotus meanwhile dragged the foaming Rarity further inside, while Aloe led Sweetie Belle deeper into the spa. Maybe they could still enjoy a day of sister bonding after all.
But to get back, it was justified drama. It was really dramatic to discover that I could get wings, but they wouldn’t be what I wanted and dreamed of. I need something soft and fluffy! Strong and durable! Not some feeble insectoid wings! Best in the size of Celestia herself! Have you ever seen such an unbelievable, gigantic, awe-inducing wingspan? I bet you could travel through Equestria with ONE flap!
I also bet she is the one responsible for spreading wings out, as well as determining the span, so that she can keep the largest wingspan for herself! Kind of screams for a revolution against her tyranny, for free wings and wing spans! But I doubt Kruger would approve of it.
Not to mention that Rainbow Dash would have my flank for a coup. I don’t want her to…
Actually, this sounds like an interesting idea to get closer to those wings. Just let her come to me. Drawback is that she would kick my flank up and down the Delta Base. Kruger would probably join her in the flank kicking too…
…Would be totally worth it.
“-wings?” I heard HEART say, as I snapped back to attention once more with a shake of my head.
“WHERE?!” I replied eager to hear what she said about wings.
“Um, I just asked why you think feathers are so important for wings. I mean, my wings work as good as any other.” She demonstrated this by buzzing her wings and flying a feet off the ground.
Slightly brought out of my eagerness after having been denied the feathery goodness I answered, “No offense, but I’m not sure that changeling wings are as durable and strong as other wings.”
“I can assure you that our wings are very durable and flexible. Especially the wings of a Princess are superior to the ones of normal Changeling drones,” lectured HEART.
I scoffed slightly at that.
Oh, I’m a princess, and I get to have extra special wings, because normal ones just won’t do!
Just the thought of it repulses my very being.
“Whatever you say, I’m not interested,” I replied slightly annoyed at her attitude. I mean seriously, that even an alicorn race like the changelings has such vast differences! What about equality! Isn’t that worth anything?! Does there have to be pompous titles and differences in strength and abilities?! Who gets to say that one pony is worth more than the other?!
Just ugh!
“I’m going to check on the beverage dispenser. It seems to jam. I will be done in time for the inspection of the new recruits,” I said, as I walked to the part of our department where the machine was located.
I just needed some distance from her. This topic just really gets me worked up every time.
Best to try and take calming breaths, in and out.
I’m wondering what the new recruits will be like.
Back with Fetch and Princess Heart
PRINCESS HEART dropped her smile, looking slightly dejected at Fetch.
“Say Fetch, does he hate me?” She shook her head at that. “What a silly question, since I can sense his emotions. I just find it hard to determine when he is deep in his thoughts. I can feel hate, but that disappeared as soon as he came out of his thoughts, so I don’t know if it was aimed at me, or if he thought just of something he truly hates. But what I can sense is his dislike towards me. I hope this doesn’t have to do anything with the invasion. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was it. I just don’t know what to do with him.”
“Please forgive him Princess, I can assure you that his behavior has nothing to do with the invasion. He is just jealous of the traits of all alicorns. You probably noticed that he wishes to have the wings of a pegasus himself. Changelings being a race with horn and wings might sour his mood a little. Not to mention his foul impression of nobility, and since you are not only a Changeling but a Princess as well…let’s just say you seem to be the perfect combined object of his dislikes, and you don’t have feathery wings to make up for it, unlike the Equestrian Princesses.”
She nodded. “I understand. So at least he doesn’t hold a grudge against my people for attacking Canterlot. Maybe I can convince him then? Show him what a great race we can be? And maybe even befriend him?”
Fetch smiled at that, before making a short bow. “I would be most grateful, Princess. I already tried to convince him to let go of his distrust of nobility, but he is very stubborn on that subject.”
She stood firm with a look of determination on the metallic ground of the R&D department. “I will. As mother is my witness I shall make Steam Gear love the Changeling race in every aspect with a fiery passion in his heart! If it is the last thing I do!”
PRINCESS HEART slightly giggled at that. “I always wanted to say that!”