This is a short story in The Journey of Graves.
The series begins with the first story: When the Man Comes Around.
IMPORTANT: If you haven't read the series, please head back to the beginning and check it out. While each story stands on its own, the character and relationship developments will build on each other as the series progresses.
And so, the saga continues...
Marshmallows and Cotton Candy
By: GentlemanJ
Sweetie Belle Does Business
Silently, dutifully, the marshal sat at his kitchen table and scribbled away at his reports. Quill dipped into inkwell. Quill scratched on paper. Quill dipped into inkwell again. Incessant. Administrative. Bureaucracy.
… It was awful.
Reports definitely had to be the least attractive part of the job, and that included the extensive variety of shootings, stabbings, bitings, smashings, and other physical traumas that came part and parcel with being one of Equestria’s finest. Not for the first time, Graves found himself wishing he had officer rank like Shining Armor just so he could get a junior to fill the forms out for him. Sadly, that was neither here nor there, so the grey-eyed soldier wearily continued scratching away.
He continued even as the front door opened to announce the arrival of a diminutive guest. He steadily worked as soft grunts and quiet scrapes sounded from a spare chair being dragged across the room and up to the table. He kept his eyes down even when the fluffy-headed intruder scrambled up into the seat and peered up at him with big, expectant green eyes.
Quill dipped into inkwell. Quill scratched on paper.
“Ahem.”
One more scrawling note, and Graves finally looked up. Sweetie Belle, bedecked in a very Rarity-esque miniature pants suit set, looked back at him through stylish, thick-framed glasses.
“Can I help you?” he asked, his gravelly baritone voice rumbling forth with absolute neutrality of tone. The little girl smiled.
“Actually, I believe today’s visit should be about how I can help you.”
“Oh?” Eyebrow arched. “How so?”
Grunting as she reached over and pulled up an over-sized briefcase, the girl with cotton candy curls only took a moment’s pause to straighten the lovely designer glasses she was clearly not accustomed to wearing before popping the case open and pulling out some very official looking forms.
“It’s come to my attention,” she began, adopting the cool tones her elder sister often used, “that you’ve been neglecting your contractual obligations. I’m sure I needn’t remind you how serious an issue this is.”
“No, of course not,” Graves nodded, his face a smooth mask of perfect composure. “But, ah… you may have to remind me which obligations I’m missing.”
“Several, really,” Sweetie Belle sighed as she flipped through various papers and folders. “You’re behind on your TSF contributions, neglected to schedule your CMCSP hosting obligations, and completely missed out on several SWCSR opportunities, to name a few. But the biggest problem by far is your failure to perform your very crucial LSAT duties. The others, we could work around, but that one’s a definite deal breaker.”
“Mm, I see.”
The marshal leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin in thought.
“You’ll have to pardon me,” he softly grunted as he settled back into his seat, “for I’m a simple man of simple ways. Can you remind me just what is this LSAT you speak of?”
“Not a problem,” the squeaky girl beamed before pulling out an honest-to-Luna flip chart, which she propped up on a collapsible easel with great relish. “Your LSAT, or "Little Sister Adventure Time" obligation, as it were, is a requirement that you take your little sister on regularly scheduled outings for exposure to the hilarities, absurdities, and sheninugi-… shenunaga-… shenimug-…”
“Shenanigans?” Graves offered.
“Right, shenanigans,” Sweetie Belle nodded, “that are necessary for a child’s growth and developmental well-being.”
“Make sense,” the marshal nodded. “But ah... when exactly did I get a new little sister?”
“The moment you departed from bachelorhood, of course,” the little lady primly answered. “See, when you and Rarity became an official item, you assumed all duties and obligations regarding her little sister therein, henceforth, and forthwith. It’s part of the contract.”
“I don’t remember signing a contract,” Graves mused.
“It’s a tacit understanding,” Sweetie Belle shrugged. “We don’t do paperwork.”
“Ah. I see.”
“So if you’ll turn your attention here,” the little lawyer continued as she gestured towards the flip chart, “this graph here represents the average time spent on LSAT activities by an average older brother figure such as yourself, while this graph here charts your performance over the last few quarters.”
“... It's blank.”
“Exactly,” Sweetie Belle nodded as she folded up the chart. “And that’s why I’m here. We need to work out a schedule for you to make up those payments post haste. If not, well… let’s just say the punishments will be very severe.”
“How severe?” the soldier inquired.
“Life imprisonment, for starters,” Sweetie Belle replied. “And then they execute you. Twice.”
“Oh my,” Graves intoned gravely. “How long do I have to make the payments?”
“Twelve hours. That means you have to do them by today.”
“Hm, that’s not a lot of time,” the marshal frowned. “I don’t think I can come up with something that quickly.”
“Don’t worry, you leave that to me!” Sweetie Belle beamed with chest puffed up proudly. “I’ve taken the liberty of drafting some preliminary proposals, just for such a circumstance.”
“Well, wasn’t that thoughtful of you,” Graves smiled. “So let’s hear them. What’ve you got?”
“Option one,” Sweetie Belle began as she pulled out a big manila folder marked ‘one.’ “We go on a safari to the Serengeti of the Southern Continent to hunt King Buffalo.”
“Tempting…” the marshal nodded. “What else?”
“Option two,” she continued whilst producing another folder, “is that we plan a heist of the Canterlot History museum and clean out their ancient artifacts and treasures exhibit.”
“Ooh, that’s a good one,” he nodded sagely. “Any more?”
“Well… there is one last one,” the fluffy-haired girl said with a good deal of trepidation. “But I warn you, it’s the toughest one by far. I don’t know if you can handle it.”
“That bad, huh?" Graves somberly inquired. "Well, what is it?”
“Option three,” Sweetie Belle said with the severest of severe looks, “is that you take Rarity and me to the annual Spring is Here Fair in the next town over and spend the whole day with us, fireworks and closing parade included.” Graves let out a low whistle of awe.
“Wow, that is tough.”
“I know, right?” the little girl sighed morosely. “But you needed options fast, so I had to throw something together.” Clearing the tabletop, Sweetie Belle leaned forward and rested her chin on folded hands, scrutinizing the marshal through her non-prescription glasses.
“So, Mister Graves,” she continued. “It seems you’ve hit an impasse, a proverbial rock and tough place, so to speak. You’ve got a choice to make, so what’s it gonna be?”
The marshal leaned back in his chair once more, trigger finger tapping his chin in quiet contemplation.
“I may be crazy,” he finally said, “and I may be biting off a whole lot more than I can chew, but I’ll go with… option three.”
“Really?!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.
“I feel like taking risks,” Graves chuckled as he stood up and tucked the little girl under one arm. “Come on, the next train leaves in twenty minutes.”
And with only a moment spared to grab his coat and hat, the two were out the door, fast on their way to shanghai a very unsuspecting dressmaker to head off for the hilarities, absurdities, and shenanigans the little one required. Of course, that meant that the reports wouldn’t get done till the next day, but sometimes you just have to prioritize and deal with the big issues first.
After all, he had a contract to keep.
**********
As usual great, great writing. Nice premise for this story.
Ah... Here we go.
glad to say this is my thousandth story to fav
Ah GentlemanJ a most favorite author here on fimfiction.
See, I read this, Genteh, and I start to worry about how good Kabla Belle is going to be at this when she's grown up...
A little error:
Wuhuu, another story! I can't wait!
And now I have diabetes. Thanks...
4223882 Yes and no. I wanted to hit these kinds of stories on my way to the end, but I didn't realize it'd be so long in getting there.
Oh sweet Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezus, that was so adorable and sweet! If it went any longer, I would have died from diabeetus!
I am distinctly reminded of those strips from Calvin and Hobbes where Calvin is baiting his father about his "campaign to stay dad" and other scenes of the like.
So Adorable! Wait what did you say?
'I wanted to hit these kinds of stories on my way to the end, but I didn't realize it'd be so long in getting there.'
What's that 'on my way to the end' bit? Don't tell me that Graves is ending!
th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2014/079/f/1/crying_rarity_by_blazeroid-d7adtd6.png
or this might be better?
th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/330/c/2/sad_sweetie_belle_by_laberoon-d5m8uy0.png
Graves being Graves, I wonder just how long he has had that Spring Fair on his diary, and been expecting this to occur.
Also, so he has an excuse to go play with those who play with the rubes.
Oh yes, son. The Carny is coming to town.
Time spent with his girlfriend and her little sister plus a ticket out of doing the paperwork, I see no downside...
4224371 Hey, every journey's got to have an ending at some point, right? Otherwise, it's just aimless wandering.
4224621 Sue me I love your stories! But I see your point. But will it be soon?
Thank you, it's always great to see my favorite series of fics updated
4224633 Depends on how long it takes me to write. Let's just say for the time being, there will be plenty more travelling before we call it a wrap.
4224901 Thank you and I understand that everything that has a begining must end. I just know that the rest of the journey and the end will be just as satisfying as the other stories in the journey.
LOL Man You're Going To Kill Someone With All This Cuteness One Day!!!!. Also Can You Teel Me What TSF, CCCSP & SWSCR Stand For?
Once again your story have completely hooked!!!!
I like where this is going.
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Anyone want some, and who is bringing the cider?
Great job as always. One question though: what do the other acronyms stand for?
Dude, are you trying to kill me? I see enough cuteness everyday to give weaker men full blown heart attacks.
This story damn near gave me diabetes, and it's only the first chapter.
I'm going to have to call the FDA and get a couple warnings on this bad-boy here before someone keels over.
Frankly, I know what I'd rather be doing on a nice day...
Stinkingly adorable! Reminds me of my own little sister about 10 years ago actually, though in her case she wasn't lawyering me, she was running a protection racket. I had to give her a weekly percentage of gross to not tell my parents about the book I was running on inter-house and inter-school sports while at boarding school. She had photographs of my ledger even.... I was so proud.
Now let us see if we can guess the other abbreviations. I would say that the CCCSP he is not hosting stands for something along the lines of Cute Cutie Crusader Sleepover Parties, and that the TSP he has failed to contribute to includes the words Sister Fund. God only knows what SWCSR stands for, though I suppose GentlemanJ knows, which is much the same thing.
So adowable. Love Graves' reaction
Just a side-note: have you ever considered doing a story where Graves has to train an apprentice, or where a new recruit comes up to him and asks to work alongside/under him?
Instant Faved on the title. Liked once I saw the acronyms.
Are the other crusaders tagging along as well?
Damn, Sweetie Belle needs to stay away from Rarity! Also... have we seen Graves meet her parents yet? I can't remember.
4225379 4226133 4225851
TSF - Tasty Snackage Fund
CMCSP - Cutie Mark Crusader Slumber Party
SWCSR - Sweet Water Cafe Sundae Run
All very srs bizness.
4226195 We've got Be a Man and Marshals: The Next Generation. A very good start to the process, wouldn't you say?
4226308 Back in Lazy Summer Days, where we have Graves face true terror for the first time in the form of death in a Hawaiian shirt.
4226648 Huh, I forgot about that
iambrony.steeph.tp-radio.de/mlp/gif/cea.gif
I could have just written "God that's cute," like everyone else. But you're worth the extra effort of finding the gif and pasting it in.
Already this is topping the most popular stories list. Well done.
Jeeze, any more and you could weaponise that.
...Yeah, yeah that'll do it.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are at DEFCON HNNNGGGG.
According to this document I have in my hand, I need to slowly lower myself from the high amounts of expectant d'aww I have before I go into d'aww overload. So for others in the same boat, take these and you should survive until the next chapter:
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encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQabkK4-PsIs3B30vPZJctRyoh5_mdU-7olMJvVU-Km_Z8BVxcgiw
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/5/22/331072__safe_solo_sweetie+belle_tumblr_image+macro_crying_cute_sad_adorable_heart+attack_adorable+as+fuck_artist-colon-jan_ask+the+crusaders_diasweetes_baby+talk.png
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img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130830155422/wingsoffirefanon/images/d/df/Breathing_intensifies.jpg
Dang, this may be my favorite Graves story ever.
I need some insulin, please.
Hurk, cuteness overload, dangerous amounts of adorable detected. Abort! Abort!
4226639 If that is Cutie Mark Crusader Slumber Party shouldnt it be CMCSP, not CCCSP?
4226639
Cutie Mark Crusader Slumber Parties - CCCSP?
Mark - C?
Spelling error, or Sweetie Belle logic?
GJ, GJ.
and the adoableness continues.
I really like how well Graves interacts with the younger characters in these stories. It's a nice balance of giving in to a child, and treating them like an adult, which so many children desperately crave. Bravo.
4224371
All roads have an ending, but I wouldn't worry just yet. The Journey is set to continue for quite a while longer.
Too cute . . . gonna die . . . *
This was absolutely adorabubble!
How Graves can manage to keep a straight-face through that whole affair is nothing short of miraculous. I think the second that Sweetie would've tried her 'pitch' I would've broken into a smile while trying to cuddle her!
5611234
Because he knows she is serious
Best part about dating Rarity? Sweetie Belle.