//------------------------------// // In the heart of The City of Greed // Story: Guardian // by EvilMastermind //------------------------------// The cream white stallion took a sip of his hot coffee from his mug, while scribing his signature with his blue ball point pen on the never ending stacks of contracts and petitions. Having other companies trying to make deals with him on paper, he sometimes stops and takes a glimpse of a couple of letters from his sister Octavia. Silicon Blondemane Melody enjoyed seeing how her once a week performances around Equestria were going. He always was a busy stallion, as endless piles of paperwork are always filling up his desk every morning. He usually stays in the company of his work from 8am to 9pm doing paperwork and checking on how his machines and prototype devices were in development to release in markets soon. AliCO. One of the most successful, and innovative companies in the world, renowned for its state of the art technologies and medicines. Medicines that once seemed impossible could be used to cure such certain diseases as AIDS or cancer. AliCO, formed by his father Tech savvy, Silicon has a vision that one day Equestria will know the great innovation and advanced technology and medicine that will change the world forever, marking a giant milestone on technology, society and health for future years to come. Tech Savvy had worked for two decades to make his dream come true and now his company has become a forefront on the development of technology and health. Such examples are the development of steam powered trains as the company's first creation. The bullet trains of the Manehattan subway that surf along underground rails connected to stations of convenient restaurants, theatres, nightclubs, parks, hospitals, malls and some on the busiest streets of Manehattan. And more stations are still in construction in order to provide further accessibility to the expansive metropolitan city. The cure for cancer was deemed almost impossible by professional doctors then, but after the vigorous research by the most professional scientists and doctors who worked for AliCO now, it was finally done. When they presented the cure in a form of a syringe, with a 6ml dose injected into the ponys bloodstream, it can cure the sick ridden victims of the cancer in a matter of minutes. With the discovery of the cure, the company has been bathed in the glory of global awards and fame. Tech savvys son, Silicon Blondemane Melody, the new president of AliCO, has taken over his father's company to continue his legacy. Now with Silicon in control, he wished to show the world about how AliCO can further grow in what it does best. With plans on releasing mobile entertainment devices and new modes of transportation. One idea, building an automobile. Even an idea where automatic weapons could be constructed to sell to the royal guards. With such in place in case of any large attacks from enemies who are idiotic enough to declare war, and try to lay siege on a city or town. The new head had high hopes that with his position he can really have the will and determination to make Equestria technically superior someday. Silicon decided to stop writing for a moment and decide to look outside of the grand metropolitan city of Manehattan. He had a clear view of the horde of ponies and some zebras walking back and forth through the crowded street. Either to shop, eat, work, or all at the same time with some tourists gawking at its breathtaking sky towers. With the Equestrian State Building towering over all others, only AliCOs headquarters just ten foot shorter than the big brother of Manehattan’s buildings. He could see the lady of Liberty on her own peaceful island, away from the bustling, noisy, polluted city which the statue should be grateful for, to enjoy its solitary state away from it. Such glistening beauty and architecture will lure anypony thinking that they can earn so much wealth and a potential promise in attracting a good companion with such money, if they just work very hard every day. That, is not always so easy of course. The city is the home to wondrous architecture, rich diverse history and culture. The heart of the business world, money, fame, nightclubs, fashion, and of course all of it very modernistic. But all of these things known by so many ponies also camouflages the dark side of it, the dirty and cruel truth of the city. Fierce competition between many businesses is always present. Everyday, company heads, and even small time store managers are not afraid to get their hooves dirty. They would find the right time and a good opening from other rivals to use the city and each other for their own dirty profits. Some may employ the use of blackmail on their rivals to force them to grant them whatever they want. They even may feed lies to the law enforcements, or have their rivals become bankrupt. Each, stir up some big controversies on each other through the headlines of newspapers, all to have ponies turn their heads away in disgust on any particular business targeted. This is why some journalists and ponies who have had experience in the business world also call Manehattan, The City of Greed. Manehattan is also home to waves of crime in the more poorer neighborhoods. Theft, racketeering, blackmail, assault, prostitution, rape and many more criminal sins are committed every day of the week. Gangs were formed in each neighborhood, some only committing nonviolent crimes such as robbery, theft and vandalism. While others go as far as rape, murder, arson, torture and many more deplorable crimes. The police cannot always respond to every crime reported in the city. So for more than a decade, crime was off the charts. A clicking sound of the door is heard, snapping Silicon out of his moment at viewing out the window. He set his crystal green eyes on a grey stoic mare who entered his office. He saw she has black plaited hair, and a buttoned up black business suit with a red tie. He also saw her with a thick black binder on her right hoof. "Mister Melody," said the grey mare as she hands the binder onto Silicon's desk. "Here are the registration forms you were suppose to be given yesterday sir." "You know you can just call me Silicon, Grey Leaf." Said Silicon as he flicked some of his bright blonde hair that was covering his left eyebrow up and start looking through the forms inside the binder. "My apologies, Mr Melody." Grey Leaf sarcastically apologised, who of course must always call her boss formally. Grey Leaf continued, "Oh yes, there are some good news that you will be very pleased to hear." The sudden annunciation of pleasant news caught the white stallions ear. He perked up and met eye to eye with her. In Silicon’s show of interest Grey Leaf added, "It seems that we are beginning to make a big fortune today sir. With the success of the bullet trains and the cure for cancer and AIDS. Each are giving us a boost on our financial records. It seems that we have enough money to sell hundreds of millions of the devices and automobiles that you have been working on for three years, Mr Melody." Silicons lips curved up to show his satisfied and excited mood that he was now in, after hearing the wonderful news. "Excellent!" Exclaimed Silicon, giving Grey Leaf a frightful shock at the sudden burst of excitement Silicon released.HE realized her sudden fright and gave her a smile of apology and a glare of embarrassment. "Hehe, um, my apologies." "That is...quite alright" said Grey leaf as her heart rate slowly falls down to normal. She went back to a more formal tone. "Ahem, well it is very fortunate news indeed.” She hesitated for a bit. “However, it is also an opportunity to change Equestria as we know it sir." She said it with a tone of concern that Silicon's plans could take him to a new age, an age where it is more likely that not just Manehattan, but more likely all of Equestria will be changed in the future. She asked with worry, "Are you entirely sure that with this, we are all ready for such a massive change?" "Grey Leaf, you make it sound like it's a bad thing," replied Silicon, also with a hint of concern in his tone, as to why she would have some misgivings about this great news he was just given. Grey Leaf became apologetic. "I really did not mean to sir." As she looked out of the large glass panel windows on her right she distanced herself from him to think clearly, without his gaze overshadowing her thoughts. "It's just that i'm not to sure about all of this. I respect your father's ambition of presenting his brand new idea of technology, i do!" Grey leaf then turned her head to the white stallion with a continued troubled look that matched her voiced words to him, and worry on what she felt he might think of what she said. Silicon lifted himself off of his chair and walked around his desk to come closer to her, so they could meet face to face. Grey Leaf could now see his whole form. An average height for a stallion, well toned firm build, showing a sign of the many workouts he have done daily, and his cutie mark on his flank showed a large grey cog with a lightning bolt striking from the top of the cog. He laid a hoof on her as a sign of his pity and comfort for the mares worry of the future. "Grey Leaf," Silicon said warmly, with a note of pity. "It's alright if you have a different view of all the work we have done, that's what makes you a pony." He let go of her shoulder and laid it on the floor "If you want to state your view, feel free to do that my dear." Grey Leafs worrisome expression had now settled slowly to a more calm and relieved one. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "I'm sorry about that sir." Grey Leaf apologised again, but her tone was more of relief and happiness. With a more easy going calmness to her, she divulged her true feelings. "Well, um, I just always loved Equestria as it is now, everything we have now is something that doesn't need further change as we have everything we want now in this world. Well, um, of course, except for the crime." She managed a chuckle from that, but after she cleared her throat awkwardly as to say that it must be very unamusing to mention, then make light of that last part. With a bit of personal merth over her troubled mind, he chuckled a bit himself. "Hehehe, I understand what your talking about Grey Leaf." He continued with a sense of pleased conviction in his words. "It is likely that a lot will change for Equestria. But if that does happen, I promise that at least the changes will be positive.” He pointed out with a hint of favour over his accomplishments to suggest to her he was in his rights to do as he is. “I mean we found the cure for cancer and AIDS two years ago Grey Leaf. And the bullet trains are there as well for quicker transport of course. Both are quite good changes, I would think." Silicon managed another chuckle "And don't forget what my dad did with the steam trains. Without that! You probably would never reach your fantasy expo at Van Hoover in time." "Hee hee, I guess you're right." Grey Leaf giggled now with a nod of acknowledgement "Im sorry for um, being so worrisome and concerned about all that sir." "Aww it's absolutely fine Grey Leaf." Silicon said warmly, patting the mare's shoulder. "How about you take off now dear? It's almost lunch anyways." "Oh my really?” said Grey Leaf with a quizzical look. “Gosh time is going pretty fast. Well I am famished anyways sir." "Grey Leaf, call me Silicon." Sean's tone was final but then curved his lips up to show that he wasn't serious. "Oh um yes si- I I mean Silicon hehehe" Grey Leaf stammered, her cheeks were glowing red and radiating heat off of her cheeks. She turned around to head out of his office, but not until she turned fully to him first. "Have a good day sir," said the mare with a tone, like that of a child would have after a good day at a friends birthday party. "You too Grey Leaf." Silicon farewelled to her as she closed the door slowly and politely, so as herself or anypony else’s noise from outside his office to be of any further distraction to Silicon. He looked through the forms some more. But not without looking out of his window again to have another view of the city. It is to give a reminder to himself of where he is now, even with all of the friendly and nice ponies he has met in his life, including Grey Leaf and other friends, that he still lives in a city of greed.