>>156679She
thinks she can recreate the tune. But she faces a few problems. One, the notes were
presumably created on a viol? Second, there seems to have been more than one origin of the notes; i.e., more than one instrument. Though it isn't clear whether a mandolin was or was not among those instruments, to recreate any significant portion of the music would require multiple performers. Finally, and most importantly of all, Amber has never heard that sound out of an actual instrument before. It's the sort of sound that can exist only in dream, in a realm not bound by the dimensions of space and time.
>>156680Perhaps one day, when she's more familiar with the intricacies of music, she might be able to simulate it in some sort of composition. As for now, she goes out for a morning walk, without any clothes, for some invigoration before she takes on the rest of the day.
>>156681The sun comes up. There are a surprising number of ponies (and griffins and zebras in smaller numbers) about. It looks like it must be a change of shift in some of the factories. Several of the dreaded batwinged-ponies are walking about. One rough looking bat pony stallion even cat calls her, and refers to Amber as "fine."
>>156685Yeesh, bats!She casts nervous glances around the bat ponies and steers clear of them, especially the cat-caller. However, the morning air, even in the city, is refreshing, and she returns back to her room to shower and get dressed.
>>156687Celestia’s kindness is as boundless as her wisdom. But precisely why she chose to let the bat ponies continue to live after their treachery, rather than exterminate the lot of them when she had the chance, remains a mystery to Amber.
It is indeed a very fresh feeling. The air outside is chilly, which works just fine for physical exercise. The roads outside aren’t ideal for the purpose, but it works all the same.
The water if the shower is cold, but Amber dries off and gets dressed in a timely manner.
>>156688Sadly breakfast, even a cheap one at a greasy spoon–she reminds herself to buy some oats at least to prepare in her new pot–is outside of her budget, but at least she was well-nourished yesterday.
She heads off to start a day of work.
>>156689Perhaps Amber wonders if Dahlia would have let her eat breakfast at his house... In any event, it's really Amber's fault for being poor.
Amber gets there are few minutes early, but High Sewn, who is already hard at work in her shop, immediately drafts Amber into doing work. High Sewn has directed Amber to place new price tags on dozens of items. Prices are going up.
While this happens, High Sewn volunteers her own projections for the future. She believes that a few key naval victories in the past week by New Mareland against several Griffonian nations is going to lead to those nations exiting the War. She thinks that from an economic perspective, this will be a good thing, as it would lead to an increase in supply, greater overseas trade, and hopefully, demobilization and the release of Equestrian P.O.W.s. She thinks that this might be a very bad thing. She believes that the Fascists have been willingly giving in to humiliating terms from the Changelings, the Harmonists, and the local Social Democrats, because they could not afford more conflict in Equestria. She thinks that once the war overseas is over, they will send hundreds of thousands of troops to Equestria, and will want to 'renegotiate'. Annoyingly, High Sewn stops working at a few points so she can hear herself talk, while Amber is made to continue replacing price tags.
>>156690As desperate as Dahlia might be to get her son hitched, Amber has known the family only for a day and it might be rude to mooch off them for every meal.
She marvels at how prices have gone up so quickly and does her best to neatly place the new tags. So many articles of clothing only drift further from her means.
Amber's ears swivel to listen to High Sewn. Without so much of a radio or newspaper, all of her knowledge of world events came from secondhand talk and gossip from local ponies, and now High Sewn fits into that role.
"You might be right on both points. I hope it's much more the former, and less of the latter. Less war is good anyway, at least."
>>156691>Not wanting to exploit the desperation, sadness, and loneliness of kind strangersAlright then. Do it your way.
At least the price increases are mostly small, generally no more than 5%, if even that. Still, it must be done.
High Sewn speaks with complete confidence on this subject, as she speaks on all subjects.
"The War has to end. They can't afford it. And I can't imagine they want so many of their stallions away for so long."
>>156692Like any young mare, her thoughts drift to the stallions coming back. Brave, strapping young stallions.
"Will a lot of stallions from Baltimare be coming back?" she asks.
Immediately she feels guilty. How dare she be thinking about other stallions when she has Mustard! But knowing the market, so to speak, isn't bad in itself.
>>156693She answers,
"If they actually do release the prisoners this time, then sure. A decent number. I can't really think of how many. A few thousand at least."
Whether Amber is asking because she wants to see about Mustard Trim's brother and or father being released, or because she wants to replace Mustard with a braver, stronger, better stallion... perhaps even his older brother - there is no question that very many of Equestria's best were taken in the war.
>>156694Mustard being cuckolded by his own brother would be a very strange turn of events indeed.
"Isn't it so cruel–not to mention expensive–to keep thousands of soldiers locked up for so long? Why is it still like that?" she complains.
>>156695Strange. But Amber can make it happen. Unless both brothers end up with prettier mares... Anyways
"Cruel? They don't care. All they will ever tell the world is that conditions are good and typhus is kept to a minimum.
As to why, well the reason they say is that the War did not end with the Princesses' surrender. Hippogriffia, Aquelia, and Skyfall still fight, and they say they need the prisoners as leverage against them. More important, I think, is that they are afraid of the prisoners. When the surrender happened, many of the soldiers chose to continue fighting in the woods and jungles, and many more fled to Hippogriffia and elsewhere to keep fighting. Add in resistance, and I think they have trust problems. But the main reason, I think, is that they need the slave labor. You see, however many stallions went missing in the war here, there are far more stallions drafted over there. They don't have enough stallions to do basic things like build roads, harvest crops, or repair railways. So they have prisoners do it for them. And the few they really trust, they even let join the military.
Anyways, they say they will let the prisoners go when the war ends."
>>156696https://youtu.be/Q4o6X9bOeRgShe looks shocked by those reasons.
"Slave labor? That's horrible! And unheard of in Equestria since…since King Sombra." She shakes her head, as if trying to get the visualization out of her head.
"We can only hope they have enough decency to abide by that promise…."
>>156697"Oh please." She waves a hoof in the air, and rolls her eyes. Disturbingly, she's talking instead of doing work again.
"Every generation in every society has had it's bottom rung. A class of creatures who do the lowest, most menial of tasks. Serfs, slaves, earth ponies, the proletariat, immigrants... Now, for them, it's prisoners of war. Prisoners of war have always been a favorite source of such labor. In the past, they'd be kept their whole lives as slaves. At least in modern times there is some accountability for the masters, and the prisoners can be released after a time."
>>156698At least Amber is getting paid for the work Sewn doesn't do, or at least she should soon. Paychecks are still an unfamiliar concept to the farmpony.
"It's still against the principles of Harmony," she grumbles. She really did not like earth ponies being lumped in with slaves and immigrants, evidently.
>>156699The unicorn does not notice or care about Amber's offense. She stands up, and looks at a sheet which Amber knows is a reference sheet for prices. So at least she's doing something herself now.
"Only the Fascists think the Fascists abide by the principles of Harmony."
>>156701She nods.
"Well, you better hope I'm wrong about there being a coming crackdown. They started too early in Manehattan, but be sure that they will do the same everywhere else soon enough."
>>156702Amber can't help but shudder. Baltimare never was that safe, but the thought is terrifying.
>>156703"Baltimare has been a quiet sector since they 'Pacified' it some months ago. Maybe it'll stay that way for years. But I don't think it will. I think everyone is just waiting for the right time to strike."
>>156704"Don't you think it's a good idea to leave, then?" she asks with uncertainty.
>>156706The question gives her pause.
"I don't know," she says flatly.
>>156707"Well, I'll tell you. I built my business here, and I've kept it here through the War, the revolt, against protection racketeers, the city tax collector, and that one self-proclaimed 'Anarchist'. I'm not going to give it up easily, and I do not expect to close down business, at least not more than a week at a time. If I have to, I'll go to my little loft in Canterlot. I'd rather not. I'd rather avoid some of those ponies, and one stallion in particular, but it isn't like I've nowhere to go. Anyways, I've ridden out a hurricane here before, I've stayed through battle and siege, and I think I'll survive through what comes as well."
>>156710She smiles at her employer's resolve.
"That's a good attitude to have. I'd prefer to stay here as well, and running rarely solves anything."
>>156711“You’ve barely been in the town. Why would you stay?” She asks Amber
>>156713She shakes her head
“Oh you poor young thing… Tell you what. Go out there and get yourself some adventure and opportunity. Just don’t sign any contracts, give away the last of your money, and don’t walk away with a strange stallion without condoms and a gun, okay?
>>156717High Sewn has a general tendency to speak to ponies (and the griffin) without looking at them. This time, however, she looks directly at Amber, with her mouth open, and her right cheek muscle raised, partly closing her eye.
"Uh huh. Celestia, it's like the universe is trying to shame me for being single." The next lines are more directly aimed at Amber
"Okay, so is he back home?"
>>156719She looks at her with wide eyes
"You've been here a week"
>>156721"Oh..." She says. "How old is he?" She blinks one, two, three times
>>156723"Oh." She actually looks relived for some reason
"Well, one week wouldn't be a record... Good luck. May you fare better than those who have come before."
>>156724"Thank you!" One thing Sewn says puzzles her.
"What do you mean, 'those who have come before'?"
>>156725"Do you think you're the first little filly to get a colt-friend? Well let me give you some advice. Don't let love blind you. Don't think that even a promise of marriage means he's serious. Don't think you ever really know a pony, even after years. Be very careful about getting tied down by even something like buying a home together, never mind a pregnancy or marriage. And I wouldn't recommend dating coworkers. It makes you hard to be impartial when things are good, and hard to be civil when things go catastrophically wrong. Also, new store policy: no dating coworkers. Remind me to tell Guy when he gets here in the afternoon."
>>156726Amber thinks carefully about these words. Slowly, she replies,
"Well, he seems really serious…but I'll keep it in mind. Thank you."She continues,
"Who would Guy be dating here? I'd never date him in a million years." She looks disgusted by the thought of either a pony dating a griffon or the insinuation that she would be the one to do it, considering she doesn't know any other workers than her and Guy.
>>156727"Oh, they do that well. The seeming.
And don't disrespect Guy. He dresses well, he takes care of himself, works hard, tries to learn all of the clothing terms and brands, and puts up with insufferable customers, all while going to school. I wouldn't date him either, because I'm not too keen for griffin flesh. But I'd act like I was flattered, and respectfully decline. Actually, just in general don't insult stallions when you reject them. They'll make it their life's mission to get back at you."
>>156728"Well, Guy ain't that bad–for a griffon–though he is distant. But what do you do if a stallion feels insulted really easily, and takes a reasonable rejection too personally?" Amber realizes that her boss is an odd source of advice, but one of the only ones available to her.
>>156729"That's what you need to be tough for. Give all due respect, be reasonable in your dealings, act with all warranted politesse, and you will find out who is worth your time. It won't be your fault if they take it badly.
To be rejected, or worse, broken up with, is a very personal thing. Especially when it comes to romance, but honestly even when it comes to business contracts or employment, or buying a house. They are rejecting
you. There is something humiliating in that. If you are strong, and they are strong, you can simply explain that it isn't going to work out, and they are not going to like it, but they can understand, and be on their way. If they are weak, they are going to know that the rejection is a confirmation of their weakness, and they will be angry no matter what you do, because they need someone else to blame for their own faults.
But no one likes insult on top of injury. So please, be nice, so you don't hurt someone who didn't deserve it. Well, hurt them more than you needed to. And frankly, if you think they are going to overreact to your rejection, do you really think they are going to underreact to your insults?"
She looks away for a moment, and back
"Guy is 'distant'? You sound like you are already dating him. Just try to open up conversation with him to get to know him better."
>>156730"Alright, but it's like Guy is always looking down on me. Thank you for the advice, by the way."Indeed, she was not expecting Sewn's advice to be so detailed, and she keeps it in mind so she can closely evaluate her relationship with Mustard. For now though, she must work.
>>156731High Sewn opens the store for customers, and Amber is working once again.
There aren't that many ponies coming in, at least not yet. But it's more than none. A mare is shopping for her filly's cutesinera, and a couple for basic winter clothing. High Sewn helps with the Cutesinera, while Amber is placed on the register. This is a new experience, and Amber may have wished she learned a bit more 'rithmetic
>>156732>>156733Amber at least learned arithmetic, though it's not her strong suit, and she'll need to practice a bit more. She thinks she can do the job, she's just a little slow at it.
>>156734A zebra comes in trying to get clothing for her foals. More than one mare comes in looking for heavy jackets that do not make sense in Baltimare weather. A stallion comes in looking for a birthday present.
During down time, High Sewn tries to explain the different kinds of thread used in the various articles of clothing sold at the store.