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Equestrian Monopoly by ABearNamedCindy

By grapenut
Created: 2022-07-19 23:25:48
Expiry: Never
sim

  1. Equestrian Monopoly by ABearNamedCindy
  2.  
  3. https://poneb.in/iYu3Bjg2
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  7. --------------------------------------
  8. >"Come on Anon, you know I'm good for it, just lend me the bits!"
  9. >The blue mare pleaded as she leaped across the table to grab your coat.
  10. "I just do not believe that giving you a loan would be within the best interests of Equestrian National.
  11. >"Not within the best interests of the bank, or not within your interests?"
  12. >"hmph!"
  13. >She pouted as she released her grip and sat back into her seat.
  14. >Crossing her arms and looking away.
  15. >You always hated these kinds of clients.
  16. >They always felt like you owed them something.
  17. >But you always used your classic go-to line whenever that came up.
  18. "It is the duty of the crown to ensure the wellbeing of its citizens, as it is my duty to ensure the wellbeing of Equestrian National."
  19. >You fix your glasses
  20. "Perhaps you should take your problem up with Equestrian Urban development and simply default on your loan for the home."
  21. >"You mean declare bankruptcy? Anon! That would ruin me! I'd be the biggest loser in all of Ponyville!"
  22. "Well, we are not charity, we are a for-profit institution that is very much in the business of profit..."
  23. "let's be frank, this meeting is a formality. Had you not been an element of harmony, you'd be talking to a low-level banker."
  24. >She begins to tear up.
  25. "And he'd be telling you the exact same thing I'm telling you now."
  26. >"Please Anon, there has to be something you can do."
  27. >She said, beginning to cry.
  28. >"I'm....I'm desperate here...."
  29. >That's what you were hoping to hear.
  30. >You pull from your desk, a dusty old tome, with broad golden text across the front reading.
  31. >Ye old Equestrian Laws.
  32. "Well...there is something you could do for me personally, and perhaps I might be willing to buy the loan myself from the Peguese Union."
  33. >"R-Really?"
  34. >She muttered only half assured
  35. >You flip through the pages and push the book towards her
  36. >Pointing directly at a page in the book.
  37. "Civil Code Section 22.2, if you'd be so kind and read it aloud for me?"
  38. "You can read can't you?"
  39. ----------------------------
  40. >"Y-yea, I can...it says..."
  41. >"Should an Equestrian citizen, be they of equine, minotaur or other decent, have the legal and freely given consent of the party involved, that party not needing to be of Equestrian citizenry, then they may issue a legally binding contract with aforementioned person that puts them fully indisposed to the contractor until a specified time so long as compensation of some kind is provided."
  42. >You pull the book away from her
  43. "Yes, yes, yes, and the contractor can terminate the contract at anytime yadda yadda yadda.."
  44. >You say as you place the book into your desk and pull a pen and paper from your desk
  45. >And begin to scribble away at it.
  46. "Now, what does that mean to you?"
  47. >"I...I don't know..."
  48. "Of course you don't, your an idiot, but luckily for you I'm not."
  49. >You finish up your last sentence on the paper.
  50. >And pass the paper to her with the pen.
  51. "Now, if you really want to save your home, you'll read this and sign it."
  52. >"I-I don't know Anon...this is all kind of happening very fast."
  53. "Fine"
  54. >You begin to pull the paper away.
  55. >"W-wait!"
  56. >"I'll sign it give it here!"
  57. >She said as she frantically grabbed the paper and scribbled away her name on the dotted line.
  58. >You examine the paper once more and place it into your desk
  59. >And extend your hand to Rainbow Dash.
  60. "Congratulations Rainbow Dash, you are now under my employ for the next ten years."
  61. >"WHAT?!?!"
  62. "Well I mean you did read the law, and you did sign the paper, your now an indentured servant."
  63. >"I-I didn't read the paper, I didn't know what I was signing honest!"
  64. "But you did read the law didn't you?"
  65. >"But I didn't understand it!"
  66. "Nowhere in the civic code does it say that you must understand it, only that you willingly sign the contract."
  67. >"Y-you tricked me!"
  68. "No I didn't, I only said I'd pay your debt in exchange for ten years of unpaid labor, of which I would provide home and sustenance on the contract."
  69. "You chose not to read it, and you chose to willingly sign it."
  70. -----------------------------------------
  71. >You press a button hidden beneath your desk
  72. >"You can't do this Anon! It isn't right!"
  73. "It's already done."
  74. >"I won't honor it then."
  75. "Then I'll have you thrown in prison and sue you for violating a legally binding contract."
  76. >The once defeated mare is now enraged
  77. >And she begins to climb your desk to lunge at you.
  78. >"Give me the contract you dweeb!"
  79. >As she begins to jump at you, she is slammed onto your desk by two stallions. Both wearing your corporate blue security guard outfits
  80. >She struggles violently swinging her hooves at the guards.
  81. >"I have rights Anon, this is assault!"
  82. "Not only is this not assault, but even if it was, you've been stripped of your rights by me."
  83. >You lean back into your chair
  84. "I can do whatever I want to you."
  85. >"Buck you Anon you greedy little troll!"
  86. "Put her in the back, we'll have a heart to heart later when she's calmed down."
  87. >Your guards drag her from the room and she curses your name.
  88. "Oh and Rainbow Dash!"
  89. >She glares at you as your guards hold her at the door.
  90. "I'll purchase the debt on your home right now. Wouldn't want to be in breach of my contract after all."
  91. >You wave the guards away and you begin to write another letter....
  92. --------------------------------
  93. >Hours come and hours pass
  94. >And you have your secretary carry your day to day letters to the post office, that and the newly signed contract with Rainbow Dash.
  95. >It was a busy day.
  96. >But you got a very precious pawn for this game of chess you were playing.
  97. >You check the clock in your office and see the time to be around 10pm-ish.
  98. >Another late night.
  99. >You worked hard for these miserable creatures.
  100. >These undeserving self-righteous wretches...always expecting handouts....
  101. >But your getting lost in thought again.
  102. >You leave your office and enter "the back room"
  103. >To see Rainbow Dash, locked in a cell and being watched by a withered old guard.
  104. >He's dozed off and she still shakes the cell door hoping in vain to break free.
  105. "Shake it some more, I'm sure you'll break it this time."
  106. >She stops and turns her attention to you.
  107. >"Let me go, this is kidnapping!"
  108. "No it isn't, I'm detaining my violent servant. It is within my right."
  109. >You say as you walk towards the sleeping guard
  110. >You tap him on the shoulder
  111. "Why don't you call my carriage driver, and head home."
  112. >"R-Really Mr. Anon, but...who will guard the bank?"
  113. "Oh we'll survive one night without a watchmen."
  114. >You say as you help the tired old stallion to his feet.
  115. "Your getting old Sammy, you outta retire. Spend more time with your grand foals."
  116. >"Oh, after everything you've done for me, the least I could do is stay on the payroll."
  117. >You place your hand on his shoulder
  118. "You're a good guard Sammy, you've been here since the beginning, I hope you'll stay with us for many more years."
  119. >He smiles at this and you respond
  120. "Now go get my fucking carriage and go home, that was an order."
  121. >"Oh, r-right away Mr.Anon!"
  122. >He scampers out of the room.
  123. >And you lock the door.
  124. >You grab a chair and pull it up in front of Rainbow Dash's cell and sit on it.
  125. >She glares at you, and you stare back unblinking.
  126. --------------------------------
  127. >"You gonna say something?"
  128. >You pause for a moment longer.
  129. "You ever love someone?"
  130. >You stand and walk towards the cell
  131. "I mean like really love someone?"
  132. >You place your arms on the cell door, elbows just above your head and lean into the bars till your face to face with her.
  133. "So much that you can barely breath when you're around them?"
  134. >"Is this the part where you tell me you have crush on me?"
  135. >You slip your arms between the bars and grab her head.
  136. >Then slam her face into the bars.
  137. >"Ahhh!"
  138. >She screamed as she fell back in pain.
  139. >You open the cell door and enter.
  140. >She regained her composer and yells
  141. >"You little twerp!"
  142. >As she flew towards you
  143. >But you plant your fist into her muzzle midflight.
  144. >Effectivly close lining her from the air.
  145. >Her body slams onto the cold hard concrete floor.
  146. >And you get on top of her
  147. >She flails her hooves at you and you slap them aside and pin them.
  148. "Do you have any idea how that feels?"
  149. >"W-what are you doing?"
  150. "When they stay in your mind and become an itch you just can't scratch?"
  151. "It can be just so frustrating!"
  152. >You say as you punch her on her side
  153. >She wheezes
  154. "Day in and day out to see her come and go."
  155. >"C-calm down Anon, I-I didn't do anything!"
  156. >She stuttered
  157. >You exhale and look into her eyes
  158. >They're full of terror and she's too scared to maintain eye contact.
  159. "No...no I guess you didn't."
  160. >You lean on to her, bringing your face closer to hers
  161. >She turns away, her eyes beginning to tear up.
  162. >and she starts to shake
  163. "You ever take a ride in a carriage before?"
  164. >"N~na, na"
  165. >You slap her
  166. "Out with it."
  167. >"No."
  168. "No what?"
  169. >"No sir."
  170. "Good..."
  171. >You grab her by the scruff of her neck
  172. >and shove her out of the cell.
  173. >Your carriage driver wait just outside
  174. >Door open
  175. >You force her into your carriage
  176. >And enter
  177. >Then leave into the night.
  178. >You say nothing to her the entire ride and just stare out the window.
  179. >And she does her best to sit as far away from you as possible.
  180. -----------------------------------
  181. >"You gonna say something?"
  182. >You pause for a moment longer.
  183. "You ever love someone?"
  184. >You stand and walk towards the cell
  185. "I mean like really love someone?"
  186. >You place your arms on the cell door, elbows just above your head and lean into the bars till your face to face with her.
  187. "So much that you can barely breath when you're around them?"
  188. >"Is this the part where you tell me you have crush on me?"
  189. >You slip your arms between the bars and grab her head.
  190. >Then slam her face into the bars.
  191. >"Ahhh!"
  192. >She screamed as she fell back in pain.
  193. >You open the cell door and enter.
  194. >She regained her composer and yells
  195. >"You little twerp!"
  196. >As she flew towards you
  197. >But you plant your fist into her muzzle midflight.
  198. >Effectivly close lining her from the air.
  199. >Her body slams onto the cold hard concrete floor.
  200. >And you get on top of her
  201. >She flails her hooves at you and you slap them aside and pin them.
  202. "Do you have any idea how that feels?"
  203. >"W-what are you doing?"
  204. "When they stay in your mind and become an itch you just can't scratch?"
  205. "It can be just so frustrating!"
  206. >You say as you punch her on her side
  207. >She wheezes
  208. "Day in and day out to see her come and go."
  209. >"C-calm down Anon, I-I didn't do anything!"
  210. >She stuttered
  211. >You exhale and look into her eyes
  212. >They're full of terror and she's too scared to maintain eye contact.
  213. "No...no I guess you didn't."
  214. >You lean on to her, bringing your face closer to hers
  215. >She turns away, her eyes beginning to tear up.
  216. >and she starts to shake
  217. "You ever take a ride in a carriage before?"
  218. >"N~na, na"
  219. >You slap her
  220. "Out with it."
  221. >"No."
  222. "No what?"
  223. >"No sir."
  224. "Good..."
  225. >You grab her by the scruff of her neck
  226. >and shove her out of the cell.
  227. >Your carriage driver wait just outside
  228. >Door open
  229. >You force her into your carriage
  230. >And enter
  231. >Then leave into the night.
  232. >You say nothing to her the entire ride and just stare out the window.
  233. >And she does her best to sit as far away from you as possible.
  234. ---------------------------------------
  235. >After several moments pass...As time seems to elude you
  236. >The carriage inevitably stops.
  237. >The door opens and you have arrived at the Anon Mansion.
  238. >A three story tall and 5000 by 5000 square feet victorian themed eyesore.
  239. >Although it was larger than anything dash had lived in before, you knew it was a cozier sized mansion compared to what the elite could afford.
  240. >It had begun to rain during your travel so the air was cold.
  241. >"Wow this is a real nice place and all b-but maybe I should get going...."
  242. >You raise your hand to stop her from finishing her thought.
  243. "Its best that we begin your training now rather than later. Helps prevent misunderstandings."
  244. >"T-training?"
  245. >Shivering at the thought.
  246. "It is important for you to learn that as of today, my life is worth more then your life. As such, you must ensure that my passage to my home is as comfortable as possible."
  247. >"okay..."
  248. "I suppose I wasn't clear enough. It is raining Rainbow Dash and I cannot be asked to hold my umbrella."
  249. >you say as you point to the umbrella hanging just on the wall of the carriage.
  250. >"it's a little small isn't it?"
  251. "Its big enough for what I need it to do. Now take the umbrella and wait for your master outside the carriage."
  252. >she takes the umbrella and leaves the carriage.
  253. >You can tell there was some resentment but it did not matter to you.
  254. >The umbrella was open and waiting for you just outside the carriage
  255. >as a cold and shivering dash held it in place.
  256. >Though there was one problem with this, she held it at her height level.
  257. >This would never do.
  258. >As you leave the carriage you jerk the umbrella upwards.
  259. >forcing dash onto her hind legs and she stumbles about, trying to maintain her balance.
  260. >Water seeps from the sides and splashes onto her the face
  261. >"A-anon! I can't cover both of us like this!"
  262. "Then you'll just have to cover me."
  263. >With water soaked fur she grumbled but you ignored it.
  264. >As you begin to walk directly to the left of your mansion
  265. --------------
  266. >"Where you going? The doors right there!"
  267. "I don't feel like heading home yet."
  268. "It's been months since I've seen my garden, I want to see how my peaches are growing."
  269. >"In the pouring rain?"
  270. "Nows as good a time as any."
  271. >Dash grits her teeth and grumbles louder.
  272. >but you ignore her again and begin your stroll to your family garden
  273. >And dash hops on her hind legs trying to maintain her balance while keeping the umbrella just above your head.
  274. >When out of the corner of your eye, you spot something shiny on the floor.
  275. >Stoping abruptly you cause dash to stumble forward.
  276. >And she nearly falls to the ground
  277. >and you and rummaged through the dirt.
  278. >"What, what's happening?"
  279. "I think I see a bit on the ground."
  280. >"Are you kidding me Anon? One lousy bit?!?!"
  281. >"It's pouring rain, just leave it!"
  282. >You wave your finger at her and say
  283. "Mind the penny's Dash."
  284. >As you rummage through the dirt, you find that it was in fact....a shiny rock.
  285. "Darn, well better luck next time right?"
  286. >"ERRR!!!"
  287. >Dash's anger boils over and she quickly closes the umbrella and smacks you in the back of the head with it.
  288. >The pain is sharp and stingy and you grasp your head.
  289. >When you turn to face your assailant, you find that she has flown off into the distance.
  290. >You really weren't sure what you were expecting....but you didn't care as you walked back into your mansion.
  291. >You enter the foyer of the Anon mansion.
  292. >With redwood floors and white walls decorated with many portraits of your forefathers, some serious, some smiling, some....just plain ugly.
  293. >Waiting in the foyer was a small ivory unicorn, adorned in a black maids outfit and carrying your change of clothes.
  294. >She was carrying your comfy red smoking coat and silk sweat pants.
  295. >You disrobe and she looks away, and floats the respective garments to you as you call for them.
  296. >And you begin to walk to your parlor and the ivory mare follows.
  297. -------------------------------------------------
  298. >"Would monsieur like some cocoa this evening?"
  299. "No, but prepare some anyways, were going to have a new guest joining us shortly curie."
  300. >"Right away monsieur"
  301. >She replied as she scampered off with your wet clothes.
  302. >Curie, was a good mare. That is to say that your maid who is named Curie. She always knew her place, never overstaying her welcome or giving her opinion when it wasn't asked.
  303. >She always did precisely what you asked of her...whatever it was.
  304. >And you treasured her for this because respect and obedience was all that mattered to you.
  305. >You enter your parlor, a massive room, with wooden shelves that reached the ceiling, covered in books, complete with a roaring fireplace in the rooms center, and a single red cushy chair with a single coffee table waiting just for you.
  306. >You take your seat by your fireplace, and remove your glasses placing them on the table....and wait
  307. >Before too long you begin to hear the familiar mulling of a not so obedient mare.
  308. >"Let me go you psychos!"
  309. >Tumbles and crashes could be heard in the hallways.
  310. >"Ahh! The bitch bite me!"
  311. >Screamed a stallion in the distance.
  312. >Though the voices were getting louder but you maintained eye contact with your fire.
  313. >"Help me! Somepony help me, anypony!"
  314. >And at last tumbling into your room where two large pegasus wrestling a mud covered Rainbow Dash.
  315. >They continue to scuffle
  316. >And you hear what sounds like flesh being smacked
  317. >Dash screamed in pain
  318. >And you
  319. >Well you hoped that none of your families portraits were damaged in this nonsense, but Curie would restore them should the need arise.
  320. ------------------
  321. >The finally drag her before you, and she's forced to sit on the floor by your guards
  322. >You finally lose interest in your fire and make eye contact with Dash.
  323. >Her nose had begun to bleed again and your guards had bruised her eye.
  324. >After several seconds you felt it was time to speak
  325. "You know, you have got quite a temper."
  326. >"I've got a temper? Buck you! You're a freaking psychopath!"
  327. "Dash, I'm hurt, really I am. I thought that we were beginning to have some kind of understanding back there."
  328. >You lazily sit back into your chair and say
  329. "But I guess I jumped the gun on this one, well it can't be helped."
  330. >You make eye contact with one of your guards and he nods at you
  331. >He then swiftly bashes dash on her cheek forcing her to fall onto the ground.
  332. >Your guards force her back into a sitting position and you continue
  333. "I'm just curious really, what was your plan?"
  334. "You know I legally own you right?"
  335. >"Go to hell Anon! You just wait until I tell Celestia about this, you can kiss your butt goodbye!"
  336. "Was that your plan?"
  337. "Who do you think received a copy of your contract?"
  338. "Well that and Ponyvilles court but that's beside the point."
  339. "What part of civil code did you not understand?"
  340. >"I already told you none of it!"
  341. "But surely the reality of your situation should have sunk in by now?"
  342. "I mean, I thought that it was pretty clear back at the bank."
  343. >"You just sucker punched me and kicked the shit out of me?"
  344. "It was a display of dominance."
  345. >"It looked like you were insane!"
  346. >You sigh
  347. "Figures..."
  348. >You wave your guards away and they shove her to the floor as they walk out of the room.
  349. >Dash remains on the ground, head down, and she curls up, you hear faint sobbing and you continue to stare at her.
  350. >Curie enters the room with a damp towel, a cup of cocoa and more importantly a copy of today's newspaper.
  351. ------------------------------------
  352. >She places the cocoa and the newspaper on the table
  353. >And then attempts to clean dash.
  354. >Dash, recoils at her touch and shoves her
  355. >"D-don't touch me! N-nooo!"
  356. "I didn't realize you were so fond of dirt."
  357. "I suppose it does suit you, but regardless, I dislike dirty things."
  358. >You snap your fingers and Curie jumps to Attention.
  359. >"Oui!"
  360. "Curie, if Dash resists you again, I want you to break her wings...slowly."
  361. >"Oui mon capitaine!
  362. >Dash says nothing, but begins to sob visible now.
  363. >The mare was mess
  364. >Just a fireball of emotions
  365. >First she's angry, then she's sad, and sometimes she doesn't even want say anything at all.
  366. >You can't seem to wrap your head around this
  367. >You watch her tears dribble down her cheeks.
  368. >And you watch fall onto the ground.
  369. >None of it made sense to you, and you didn't care.
  370. >You felt nothing anyways
  371. >You watched as Curie began to scrub away the dirt even cleaning Dash's nose
  372. >And before too long dash was clean again
  373. >Though her nose continued to bleed
  374. >But curie gave her a handkerchief
  375. >And forced dash to press it against her nose.
  376. >"Monsieur detests messes, it makes him so violently angry, please keep this in place manquer"
  377. >She complied but had the same sad look on her face refusing to say anything.
  378. >Curie turns to you when the deed is done
  379. >and you say
  380. "That's all for now Curie, leave us, we have much to discuss."
  381. >"I shall prepare dinner monsieur"
  382. >You wave her away and she scampers off into the hallway
  383. ------------------------------------------
  384. "And then there were two."
  385. >"Why are you doing this..."
  386. >Dash whispered softly
  387. >You decide to pause for a moment, letting silence fill the room.
  388. >You then stare at the portrait of your father just over the fireplace.
  389. >Letting quite gestate for an entire minute.
  390. >before giving your response
  391. "Because I think, that you can help me get something I want."
  392. "Something...that's been just out of my reach for years now."
  393. "Though, with your help, I figure....this little plan of mine may bare fruit."
  394. >You grab the coco from the table and place it on the ground before her
  395. >And push it towards her
  396. "I figure it's only fare that you help me after all, I mean I did help you."
  397. >She grabs the cup with her hooves and stares at it.
  398. "Don't throw that at me, it's hot."
  399. >"Why? So you can sick one of your goons on me again?"
  400. >She grumbled as she took her first sip.
  401. "Curie does make good cocoa, don't you agree?."
  402. >"This isn't cocoa Anon it's chocolat milk."
  403. "No it isn't, it's cocoa, I just prefer it with milk."
  404. >"Cocoa is made with water Anon..."
  405. "Look, I don't wanna talk about what is or isn't cocoa, I just wanted to know if you liked it."
  406. >She glares at you and grumbles.
  407. >"I've had worse..."
  408. "And I've had better guest, but we can't always get what we want can we now?"
  409. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  410. >She continues to sip her Cocoa, and you refuse to think of it as anything else.
  411. >She sits quietly
  412. >It's almost cute really, this angry battered and beaten mare sipping away at cocoa, before a roaring fire in your parlor.
  413. >But that wasn't important to you
  414. "So Dash, what do you know about agriculture?"
  415. >"Not much..."
  416. "Do you even know what that word means hmm? Agriculture?"
  417. >"Of course I do, it's got something to do with farming right?"
  418. "Basically, but it's a little more grand than that."
  419. >You let an awkward pause sit in the room for another minute.
  420. >Dash sips her cocoa and the two of you maintain awkward eye contact, you had your same hawk-eyed gaze and unblinking eyes.
  421. >Until Dash, eager to get whatever she thought this was, over with speaks up
  422. >"So what about Agriculture interests you soo much Anon?"
  423. >she groaned
  424. "I'm glad you asked Dash"
  425. >You say as you take the newspaper from the table flipping through the pages.
  426. >Until you reach the Equestrian commodities section.
  427. >You pass the paper to Dash and she stares at.
  428. "As it stands today, the Equestrian commodities market is dominated not by Gold, or not by precious metals, but Algaculture"
  429. >You sit up in your chair leaning forward so that you can be closer to dash
  430. >To better emphasize your point
  431. "Corn, Wheat, pears so on and so forth, trade for ridiculous amounts per contract."
  432. "In the Free Cities where I hail from, futures in corn would cost you around $4.00 a bushel."
  433. "Here, however, these prices are as high as 80 to 90. It's just insane."
  434. >Rainbow Dash sips her cocoa some more.
  435. >"I don't understand."
  436. >You sigh
  437. "Do you know what contracts are?"
  438. >"Yea."
  439. "Well these are like contracts, except their agreements between investors, factories, and producers."
  440. "You following me so far?"
  441. >"Well I guess so."
  442. "Good, these agreements state that if the company wanted to mitigate it's risks, all it would need to do is buy a contract with an investor."
  443. "These contracts have a locked in price to buy or sell a commodity."
  444. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  445. "What the agreement states is that if the price were to rise higher or lower, the investor would cover the loss or gain the profit as the company in question agreed to buy or sell at that set price. It's like insurance for companies."
  446. >"You lost me."
  447. "Never mind."
  448. >You say as you lean back into your chair.
  449. "Look, all I want to know is this."
  450. "Have you ever been to Sweet Apple Acres?"
  451. >She stops drinking her cocoa and becomes serious.
  452. >Sternly she says
  453. >"Why?"
  454. >This was all the confirmation you needed.
  455. >Her body language, and lack of tact betrayed her.
  456. "Well, Equestrian National is not interested in investing in the commodities market.
  457. "If that's what you think."
  458. "Too volatile and the leverage is too high."
  459. "But....the Incognito family has always been looking to experiment with a silly little idea in Equestria."
  460. >"Why can you ever get to the point? You always wanna just dance around things."
  461. "It's part of the game sweetheart, you approach every conversation like your assaulting a castle."
  462. "You don't just charge head in and expect the best outcome."
  463. "But if you want me to get to the point...You ever heard of factory farms Dash?"
  464. >"You mean like a factory that grows corn?"
  465. >"We already have those Anon, their just called farms."
  466. "So you haven't, I'm not surprised. This is a secret from the Free Cities that's only been known by the incognito family."
  467. >You gestured at book in the corner of the room
  468. "Why don't you do me a favor and bring me that book on the wall labeled Miracula Magica Ipsum in red letters. Can't miss it."
  469. >She scoffs
  470. >"Don't you do anything yourself Anon?"
  471. "I'm more of a thinker than a doer."
  472. >She rolls her eyes and gets up to rummage through the shelf you pointed at.
  473. >After around five minutes of rummaging she finds the large black book referred to.
  474. >And places it on your lap
  475. >"Here"
  476. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  477. >You flip through the pages and find the chapter containing diagrams, you pass the book to her and she looks at them.
  478. >She sees images and diagrams depicting humans and magic ruins, she can't read the language of the book as it's in latin
  479. >The de facto Free City's language.
  480. >The pictures show humans using magical ruins and shoving them into the earth, the crops are growing
  481. >The ruins also pull water from the air
  482. >Dash is confused, but she continues flipping through the pages
  483. >She sees more images of humans gathering the crops and storing them in silos also adorned in ruins.
  484. >"So what, you wanna use magic to grow corn?"
  485. "Why...yes, that's absolutely correct."
  486. "Can you read latin?"
  487. >"No, but the pictures make it pretty obvious."
  488. >"It's not gonna work Anon, I've already asked a friend about this and she said it cost too much energy."
  489. "Well, maybe for you ponies, but humans are incapable of biologically producing magic but...manufacturing it, that's a different story. All our magic comes in the form of ruins, blessed by our ancestors.
  490. "These ruins are highly potent and capable of rivaling even an alicorn's magic."
  491. "The drawback is that each ruin only performs one function."
  492. "Likewise there are millions of different ruins."
  493. >"So what's all this have to do with Sweet Apple Acres?"
  494. "Well, I can't start a farm if I don't have land do I?"
  495. "And sweet apple acres has plenty of space."
  496. >You wait for a response
  497. >And dash glares at you before replying
  498. >"Applejack would never sell it Anon, especially not to a slimy grease ball like you."
  499. "Well, with you by my side, I'm sure we can work something out."
  500. >"Fat chance I'd ever help you."
  501. >You Smile a toothy grin at her.
  502. >and Curie enters the room
  503. >"Monsieur, manquer!"
  504. >"Dinner is served."
  505. "Right, well that's enough fun for one night Dashie, why don't you go get some food and Curie will show you to your room."
  506. "Rest up, we've got a big day ahead of us."
  507. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  508. >Curie and Dash leave the room together
  509. >And as they walk through the winding redwood floors and white walled halls of the Anon mansion.
  510. >Dash can't help but wonder.
  511. "So what's the deal with you and Anon?"
  512. >"I beg your pardon manquer, what do you mean?"
  513. "I mean why do you work for him?"
  514. "He's clearly not a good guy....but you and other ponies seem to be just....so loyal to him and I can't figure out why."
  515. >"manquer, Anon...is a difficult man, with many less than flattering qualities sure....but you have to understand...he's not all bad."
  516. "Sure seems like it."
  517. >"Well, you have never worked for him."
  518. >Curie stops in front of one of the many portraits in the hallway.
  519. >"My family has served the Incognito family for generations, and every generation they have been generous to not only us but the kingdom as well."
  520. >"They've paid for our foals schooling, they've covered debts, they've built roads for Equestria when the crown could not afford them"
  521. >"Why they've even paid the guards salaries at one point to ensure that they did not form a coup d'etat."
  522. >"You need only read one of their portraits of Anon's forefathers to see"
  523. >She said as she pointed to a portrait
  524. >Dash had never noticed before, but every portrait had words of wisdom from each Incognito.
  525. >The Anon Curie was pointing to was named, John Ebaduser Incognito the 2nd.
  526. >He was a slier looking man adorned in a hunters outfit complete with pointy mustache.
  527. >In gold letters below it read
  528. >A rising tide shall lift all boats, take care of those at the bottom and we shall all prosper.
  529. >"Or manquer can read this one"
  530. >Curie said as she pointed to the portrait just above that one
  531. >This one read Fredrick Incognito 7th Serine Doge of the Free Citys, he was adorned in silk robes with a pointy hat holding a telescope
  532. >No man rules alone was his only word of wisdom.
  533. ---------------------------------------------------------------
  534. >"All incognitos have treated their employees very well, with the firm belief that they are what makes the Incognitos great."
  535. >"Why when my father broke his leg and could no longer serve Anon's Father, did he fire him and kick him to the curb like most ponies would?"
  536. >"No, he offered him what he called a severance package and pension. These words were foreign to us, and knowing the Incognitos violent history we feared for his life."
  537. >"But it was for nothing. Anon's father paid the medical bills and continued to give him full salary until the day he died."
  538. >"How can you not love a man like that manquer ? How can you not forgive the evil in his heart?"
  539. " but I saw him yell at one of his loyal employees for wanting to stay overtime."
  540. >"Obedience and loyalty manquer is all they ask of you."
  541. >"They shall do the rest as they say."
  542. "Humans are weird..."
  543. >"They are enigmas to be sure, none being entirely evil nor entirely good manquer , but Anon told me that in the free cities all that ever mattered was loyalty."
  544. >"Everything else can be forgiven, all that is needed obedience they shall teach you the ways."
  545. "What even is the Free Cities?"
  546. >"Why, the human Trade republic."
  547. >"It is a place where anyone may become noble regardless of race so long as they prove their worth to society."
  548. "How come I've never heard of them?"
  549. >"They are not on good terms with Celestia, and rather than allow Equestria to know of their existence, she believes it to be better to maintain a relationship of convenience."
  550. >"Humans are to be thought of a weak and small race, and while the Free Cities is a series tiny Island off the coast of Gryfondom, the are hardly weak."
  551. "Can't be all that tough if Celestia won't even acknowledge their existence."
  552. >"One of the things you will learn from Anon manquer ...is that power comes in many forms."
  553. >Dash scoffs at this, but Curie ignores her
  554. >And they continued to walk down your massive halls
  555. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  556. >and you, well you have been sitting alone in your Parlor the entire time.
  557. >Unaware of Dashes and Curies exchange.
  558. >You'd turned on an old record player since they left
  559. >And the old song echoed throughout the room
  560. >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG-_ZDrypec
  561. >You'd been drinking since they've left.
  562. >Staring into the fire, thinking of God, thinking of your father, thinking of anything.
  563. >You tried so hard to feel.
  564. >But nothing came
  565. >So you drank more
  566. >You drank until you could feel something
  567. >Until you could feel anything
  568. >But it never came only blackness as you lost consciousness
  569. >You'd pass out drunk again in front of the fire
  570. >And Curie would clean up your mess
  571. >This is how you lived...day in and day out of every day of every month of every year for thirty years of your life.
  572. ---------------------------------------------
  573. >The next day she served breakfast to you and Dash
  574. >And saw you both off as you rode away in your carriage once more.
  575. >Inside the carriage Dash seemed beside herself.
  576. >She kept staring at you then looking away.
  577. >and it was getting on your nerves.
  578. "What?"
  579. >"Nothing..."
  580. "Well don't look at me, I can't stand the sight of your beady eyes."
  581. >"What's your deal man!"
  582. >"Why do you have to be such a jerk all the time?"
  583. "Nice people don't rule the world Dash."
  584. >"Well Celestia does and she's one of the nicest people I know."
  585. "Celly? You think the world is at her mercy?"
  586. >You chuckle and look away from dash out the window.
  587. >You see the farm approaching near by and you reach into your coat.
  588. >Slipping a series of metal rings onto your fingers
  589. >You see Dash looking out the window away from you, with a still bruised eye
  590. "Hey Dash"
  591. >"What?"
  592. >You quickly pull your hand from your coat and swing your fist at her face.
  593. >You'd carried brass knuckles with you for this particular deal.
  594. >Dash is caught by surprise and her head bobs back from the impact slamming into the carriage wall
  595. >and she collapses onto the seat in front of her, her body going limp after impact.
  596. >You pull from underneath your seat some rope.
  597. >And began to tie her up.
  598. >By the time she regained consciousness
  599. >She was completely restrained.
  600. >"What the buck Anon?!?"
  601. "Look I said you're gonna help me with a deal today, and now your helping."
  602. >"I would have let you tie me up Anon, it's not like I'd have choice in the matter."
  603. >"You didn't have to sucker punch me."
  604. "I know, I just really don't like you."
  605. >"See Anon this is what I'm talking about, just unnecessarily aggressive."
  606. >You pull a handkerchief from your pocket and begin to shove it into her mouth
  607. >She gags but you don't care
  608. "Yea but I'm trying to sell a lifestyle her, now hold still I have some finishing touches to put on you"
  609. >From your coat you pull a switchblade
  610. >And dash pleads for mercy, though she does it in a muffled voice.
  611. >"Mff mfff mmmmmmmmff!"
  612. -----------------------------
  613. >You begin to cut at her face
  614. >Just little slashes here and there though.
  615. >She squirms and screams
  616. >And you hold her face down with your hand and her body with your knee
  617. >And slice slowly but carefully above her head
  618. >On her cheek and just below her eye
  619. >Dash begins to cry
  620. >She couldn't begin to understand the genius of this plan but you didn't care.
  621. >You manage to draw blood without cutting too deep.
  622. >This was for showmanship, it was nothing personal after all. You didn't want to scar her.
  623. >Before long her face was covered in blood, not drenched mind you but blood leaking from the wounds slowly.
  624. >Just enough to dampen her fur.
  625. >The carriage pulls up to the main cottage
  626. >And there's a sudden halt
  627. >And you can hear the annoying squealing of a filthy mud horse.
  628. >"Applejack, that monkey from the bank is back again!"
  629. >An old more mature voice calls back and you open your door
  630. >"Now if I ain't told you once Anon, I told you twice I wasn't interested in borrowing any bits from you!"
  631. >You step out of the carriage and walk out
  632. "Applejack! My friend, how are you doing?"
  633. >"Cut the small talk fancy pants, I ain't interested in what your selling, I don't need no help buying equipment neither, we'll manage just fine."
  634. "I don't know, last time I checked the market for your apples was pretty slim, and your output isn't so great either considering that your equipment's out of date too."
  635. "Plus whose gonna take care of sweet old granny of yours when winter time comes around and you don't have the capital to survive?"
  636. >You hunch over and say in nasally voice
  637. "Ohh Apple jay, looks like were havin fritters for dinner again, it's that or no heat this winter dear."
  638. >You thought this was funny as shit
  639. >Applejack, on the other hand, was not amused
  640. >And she began to march at towards you huffing and puffing
  641. >She slams you against the carriage
  642. >And your carriage drive begins to stand up
  643. >but you wave him down
  644. -----------------------------------------------
  645. "Look, it was in bad taste, I'm sorry okay."
  646. >"I want you off my property Anon, I don't like you, and I sure as sugar don't trust you."
  647. "Well at least have a look at what I have to offer this time?"
  648. >You punch your window breaking the glass to reveal your cargo
  649. >Rainbow Dash screams a little from the terror of glass shards landing on her
  650. >"Wha, what?"
  651. >"Why I outta!"
  652. "You touch me, and my driver rides your friend off a cliff."
  653. >You grab Apple Jacks hooves and slowly place them back on the floor then dust yourself off.
  654. "Now I think, we can make some kind of deal here...that can make everyone happy?"
  655. "Hmm?"
  656. >"Give me one reason not to report you to the guards for this."
  657. "Because even though you don't trust me, you know I'm not stupid."
  658. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could swing this."
  659. >"Y'all got five minutes, then imma hog tie you and take my friend back myself."
  660. >You open the carriage door and gesture to jack
  661. "Best decision of your life AppleJack, I can assure you that Equestria National strives to serve it's potential clients to the fullest of its abilities.
  662. >Applebloom speaks up worried and confused
  663. >"Wah where ya going sis?"
  664. >Apple jack turns to her and smiles reassuringly.
  665. >"It'll be okay Applebloom, I'm just gonna have a chat with Anon here for a few minutes, and then I'll be back in a jiffy!"
  666. >She enters your carriage and you whistle at your driver
  667. >And the two of you begin to ride off.

Submission is Mandatory archive

by grapenut