The mare, not Celestia, raised a hoof. "It falls to me to oversee the budgetary needs of local projects. I will hear your proposals outside of court and give it proper consideration." She nodded towards Celestia. "We should move on."

"Agreed. Next on the docket..." Court proceeded as if the war wasn't even a topic. Things were still tense, and people had plenty of needs that weren't being met, but I wanted to think that would start to change. As the rebels found their ways home to jobs and it become a fading memory, ponies could focus on more important things.

When the court adjourned, ponies began to filter out. "I hope she paid well," spat a random stallion at Soft before stomping out with the rest. Soft grumbles implied others shared the idea. Soft shrank a little with a sigh.

"I knew what I was signing on for," he consoled himself. I really wanted to pet him right about then. He looked like a puppy that had been kicked and I wanted to make it all better again. I kept my hands away from him though.

I kept it professional. "Let's go see a union."

"Let's." That was not him, or Easy. I turned to see the rounded form of Miss Mason, the guild mistress, standing there with a raised brow. "We were just going to ask about that. It seems you've been quite busy... Mmm, and union? We don't go by that name. Let's put that aside." She tossed her head towards the exit. "Shall we go have a chat? We have so much that needs to be settled. Now, preferably."

Easy waved her hooves a bit wildly. "We were just going to go looking for you!"

"How fortunate." She did not look away from me. "Then we both want to talk. Let's go."

When all three of us started for the exit, Miss Mason peered at Soft. "Why is he coming?"

I put out a hand between him and Mason. "He's with us. You should be thankful he helped broach the agreement that will see bits flowing freely into your, and your guildmate's, coffers."

Her brows went up together. "Mmm? There's another side of this? I want to hear." She moved on, her retinue drifting behind her. The matter of Soft was put to rest for the moment.

We all burst free of the courtroom. While most ponies were scattering, some in pairs or triplets, we were a large group of guild members and my plucky group of three. There was a place I could remember in town. It was one of the cleanest places, which is why it was fresh on the mind. "I know a place we can enjoy a nice lunch and talk business."

Mason's expression brightened. "Have you been studying me? I'm charmed. Very well, lead on, good sir. I will be judging your choice."

It was in part because she was large, but I was also just hungry after a waiting through all of the court session. "This way." I led all the ponies, my two hooves joining the small riot of clip-clops behind me. This was more like how I imagined coming to Equestria to be like, talking to important ponies and getting things done. I liked it.

The city was a mess. That hadn't changed the instant of the announcement. That would have been nice, but not terribly realistic. I wove through the streets determinedly. "I saw this place when we were doing the city survey."

Easy snorted softly. "And you never invited me to it? Boss!"

I held up a hand. "I'm doing that right now." There it was. It had nice little curtains out front and the street around it was clean, the tiles scrubbed and fresh. "This one."

Mason nodded as she approached. "A fine choice, if a little on the pricey side. I trust this is a sign of what is to come?" She laughed as she took the lead, guiding the way up the small steps to the door.

It opened just before she reached it, another pony standing in the doorway, a unicorn. "This way, madame. Party of..." His head bobbed and I could imagine him counting us quickly. "Ten?" When she nodded, he pointed to a table and pulled the door wider for the rest of us to proceed.

The interior was brightly lit. Soft music played from nowhere, with not a band in sight. It was some sort of classical arrangement, but they weren't playing any song I could claim familiarity with. The image of a ponified Beethoven hopped to my mind.

The table we were directed to was large enough to comfortably seat ten ponies in a circle, with a low and wide seat with a cushion for each of them. I flopped into mine with less than complete grace. Pony legs were tricky to get used to, especially when the rest of you wasn't built the same.

A waiter hurried over with a smile. "Hello and welcome! It's an honor to see such dignified guests." He was looking at Miss Mason in particular. That didn't surprise me. "Let's start with drinks--"

She held up a hoof for quiet and he stopped talking instantly. "Get my ponies a large barrel of beer and enough steins for the lot of them." She turned her hoof to herself. "I'll take a whiskey, top shelf." She looked over towards me with a silent question.

I would have ordered a soda, but those didn't exist. Water wasn't as safe as it could have been. "I'll take a light wine. Easy, Soft?"

Easy thrust up a hoof. "Give me..." Her hoof began to fall. "I... what do you suggest?"

The waiter gestured to a broad wall of liquor options. Bottles on bottles. "We just got a fresh bottle in just today. It smells exquisite, if you are partial to brandies?"

"That." She nodded firmly. "I'll try that."

"Excellent." He looked to Soft.

Soft shook his head. "I'll take whatever fresh fruit beverage is available."

"We have a pear-based slice of pleasure. I know you'll like it." He made a final note with a floating quill. "I'll be right back."

The moment he was out of earshot, Mason's ears turned towards me. "Now let's begin. Do you see us as an obstacle to be worked around, Mister Langerman?"

I set my hands down flat on the table. "On the contrary. You know the area. You know the people who work here. I haven't reached out to you yet because I had nothing to offer you."

"Mmm?" She eyed me, perhaps with suspicion, but I couldn't quite place it. "You do wish to build things, do you not?"

"Not myself." I offered a hand towards her. "I have ideas and notions. Others will do the heavy lifting, and others need to oversee them." I moved the same hand to gesture at Easy. "Hence getting a manager to start."

Easy saluted sharply. "Reporting for duty."

"But she isn't a builder."

"What? I mean, no, I guess not." Easy rubbed behind her head. "Still a manager..."

Mason smiled brightly. "I think I have an understanding. You did not join the guild because you never intend to." She leaned forward, that smile deepening. "And you never intend to because you want to hire the guild, not take part in it."

I nodded towards her. "Exactly. There was a workgroup that I hear has ties with the guild, led by one Work Pants? Good pony. I'd like him on the project."

Mason jerked at that, ears going upright. "Him?! But--" She fell off abruptly as several waiters approached. A large keg of beer was set by her minions to enjoy, steins placed out with them, one in front of each pony. A delicate glass was put in front of me and filled tall, as the others were served theirs. Different drinks had different glasses. I heard there was a point to that, but I didn't remember it at the time.

I lifted my glass in a uniquely human way I doubted the ponies would match, the stem between pointer and middle finger. "I propose a toast, to making the city better, one laid brick at a time."

Soft raised his glass in his magic. "To successful partnerships."

Easy's glass lifted up, glowing with her magic. "To brighter tomorrows!"

Miss Mason would not be outdone. She lifted her wider glass with a sultry smile. "Let's clean up this city. As you said, one brick at a time." Glasses and steins met in a chorus of tinks and clanks. "Now then... Why him? He hasn't performed a project in some time... I can get you quality ponies, a dozen of them, tomorrow. You have but to name the location."

He wasn't even a member of the guild anymore. I knew that. I knew she knew that. She was trying to discourage my choice without telling me that. Work Pants needed the work, and I was sure he'd work hard and long. He'd also drag his people with him, and they could do something besides mug ponies on the street. "I feel he is the perfect fit. Besides, now that this little... incident is over, there's no reason not to get him back to work where he can do the most good."

She frowned a little, but it eased away. "Speaking of that." Her eyes darted to Soft. "Tell me how he put bits in my purse."

Soft tipped his head as he took a sip from his glass. "That I can answer, ma'am. I was a communication channel between the lady in question and the going-ons of the court. It was my intervention that helped end it as soon as it did, and with it, money can go towards better things."

Easy thrust forward a hoof. "Like building!"

"Yes, like that." He nodded towards her before looking back at Mason. "I am quite glad the matter has been put to rest. I have already pledged my services to Mister Langerman to see to that building."

I set my glass down, half-drained. "Without him, there would be at least another three months of this fruitless war, possibly more. I'm very certain of that figure. Similarly--" I leaned forward a little, hands crossing and fingers interweaving. "Work Pants proved himself in this task, assisting me in a dangerous trip to put this matter to bed. He never once complained despite the hardships, and was always ready to work. I want him on the project."

Admitting bias seemed to ease her. "Returning a favor, are we?" She tapped a hoof lightly on the table, then glared at the waiter when he went past. "Dinner, bring it."

"Yes, Ma'am!" He hurried away in a rush.

"As I was saying." She brought her forehooves together. Was she imitating me? Flattery, or was she trying to show she could be sympathetic. I'd read about that sort of thing. Copy what the other person did to look more familiar. "Very well then. I will reach out to him and see if he'll accept the job. That does depend on the exact nature of the project." She leaned forward, her chin touching where her hooves met. "Which means I want specifics, now if you would be so kind. What is it you plan to build with my ponies?"

"Water!" exclaimed Easy in a blurt. Many eyes turned to her and she went quiet.

"It starts with water," I agreed. "But hardly ends there. The first leg of the project is to get clean water flowing into this city, running directly into pony's homes where they can use it as they wish. No public wells and their related problems." I extended a pointer and swayed it between each unicorn present. "No magic either. Nothing but clever brickwork and gravity will get the water where we want it, ready to drink, wash, do laundry, or anything else a pony might want."

She softly hummed.

Author's Notes:

Building! Are we getting to that? It feels like we're getting to that! Woo!

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