Playlist of the entire series

Celestia Supercut

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The air at the Grand Canterlot Train Station was thick with black billowing smoke. Hilfe stepped off the passenger cart onto the platform amongst a sea of other ponies. Particularly, unicorns and pegasi. They all went about their business, shifting in and around each other like a hive of bees.



Out past the station, towering higher than any tree or hill Hilfe had ever seen, loomed the city of Canterlot. The buildings stacked on top of each other, made with such winding and off-center construction, it seemed like the slightest breeze could knock them over. And yet they sat, firmly and without yielding, as they had for centuries, still in pristine condition.



Hilfe followed the river of ponies by their greatest number, leading her to the city center. Along the way, there were endless cross-section streets that led off to other parts of the labyrinthian city. The ivory colored infrastructure was robed in royal purple and gold. The pathways were paved in smooth green river stone and without a single bit of trash defacing its surface. Through the sheer vastness of all these places and ponies all in one space, a sense of folly grew in Hilfe’s stomach. It was like she was a minnow who had somehow made her way into the vast, deep ocean.



Finally, she made it to Canterlot’s center, an expansive circular clearing where it seemed the whole city congregated. A large fountain sat at the heart of it and its likeness resembled the Princess of the Sun. It peered to the horizon, extending one hoof, confidently, or perhaps demandingly, to her home, the castle.



“Oh boy.” Hilfe tapped her lips, “I must be crazy.”



The weight of her duffle bag began to pinch her shoulder in much the same way her dread did. With a small hop she shrugged both off and began her long march towards the castle.



The walk there felt endless, were it not for the sound of her own hoofsteps she would’ve believed she was just standing still. Rather, it seemed more like the castle was slowly growing in size, eventually dotting out the sun and nearly spanning the entire horizon. Hilfe looked up in awe, unaware she was still pressing forward. The only thought that crossed her mind was if it was possible to keep such a place clean, even with a city of maids.



The grand staircase to the castle alone was immense, easily wide enough to hold Hilfe’s home with space left over, and hundreds of steps tall. She took her first few confident steps, but after a while, much like the path leading up to the stairs, she realized how much further she had to go. Pegasi effortlessly flew overhead while in casual conversation. And even the unicorns, who went up and down the traditional way, seemed the least bit bothered by their trek. Some didn’t even look up from their books, having memorized the entire path.



Higher and higher she climbed, occasionally looking back to see the city shrink underneath her. Hilfe didn’t consider herself afraid of heights, but she tried not to imagine the fate of a pony slipping, and falling down every step. Fortunately for her, she thought to herself, she didn’t meet such a fate, and reached the castle entrance.



Much to Hilfe’s surprise, the grounds opened up into a vast garden encapsulated by the castle’s walls. Statues took on strange forms, contorting in grotesque and petrified postures, as if cowering from an overwhelming, unrelenting force. All while wrapped in blooming, colorful vines, as children frolicked around them like a common playground jungle gym.



The mare couldn’t focus on the expressionist art, however, and made her way to the castle. Inside, there was a hub of ponies from many walks of life. Soldiers made their rounds while academics argued on theories of magic. And of course, timidly shuffling between them all, quietly keeping to themselves, were the castle’s maids, butlers, and other staff. Seeing her path before her, Hilfe lightly galloped over to ask where to sign up.



Suddenly, Hilfe felt her hooves tangle up and she fell to the floor. There was a gasp, followed by cold silence. She rose to her hooves and realized that she knocked another pony down with her. He was an elderly unicorn, with rotten, crab-apple green skin. As he laid there on the floor, his long spindly legs curled around him like a freshly crushed spider.



“Sir Gen! Sir Gen! Are you alright?!” Asked the academics and guards who then fell to his side.



The old hack opened his eyes with a piercing jaundice and red stare. He rose up, less like a living being, and more like a reanimated corpse. He did not respond to his peers, preferring to silently rotate his neck in a series of sickening pops. Eventually, he shook his gossamer colored mane and rested his gaze upon Hilfe.



“You would be wise to watch where you’re going, young lady.” His raspy voice slipped from between his grayish teeth, “Accidents befall even the youthful, if they’re foolish enough.”



With tapered breath, Hilfe lowered herself into a bow, extending one hoof out and curling the other inward.



“M-My Lord, it was an accident. I was only trying to apply for work here and got ahead of myself. It won’t happen again.” Hilfe’s voice cracked.



The old unicorn, Gen, carefully looked over Hilfe, taking note of her odd features. Though she had a unicorn’s horn, she lacked cloven hooves and a lion’s tail. Rather, she seemed to him more like a lanky, pinto earth pony with a horn taped on.



He wetted his dry, wrinkled lips before finally smiling, “You’ve come to serve your Lord and Savior? How noble of you, young one. And how may you serve her majesty?”



“Just a maid, sir.” She replied, keeping her eyes to the ground.



“A humble contribution, to be sure. But, servitude to our Lord is viable no matter the profession.” Gen thought out loud, “So be it, there is a castle employment desk in the far corner of the lobby, over there.”



True to his word, and juxtaposed by the immense size of the castle, there was a desk in a small hole in the wall, with the label, ‘Apply Here.’



“Her Majesty expects great things from all who aid in her mission. Do not be frivolous in your work, young lady.” The old unicorn smiled tightly, “Best of luck.”



The spindly old pony then sharply turned and walked away, with a small crowd of students following him. They asked questions to him that Hilfe didn’t bother to understand, nor did Gen bother to answer.



As the mysterious unicorn disappeared into the crowd, Hilfe thought to herself aloud, “What a strange ol’ codger.”



Eventually, the crowd dispersed and everyone resumed their business. Hilfe, with greater caution, hurried over to the application desk. A faded lavender pegasus with wing tipped glasses sat as the receptionist. Her half lidded eyes blinked slowly and judgmentally as Hilfe made her approach.



“Hi!” Hilfe waved with no response from the pegasus. “I, uh, was hoping to get a job at the castle? As a maid, that is.”



“What’s your experience in the field?” The pegasus asked, beginning to file her hoof.



Hilfe nervously bit her lip, “Oh, uh, I don’t have any of that. This is going to be my first job, actually.”



The purple nag looked up from her hoof, “You don’t have experience at all?”



“Well, you see!” Hilfe quickly snapped back, “I’ve lived on a family farm my whole life. I’ve cleaned the barn, done household chores, deliveries, and some maintenance, I just never did it professionally.”



The receptionist looked up for a second in thought before shrugging, “Sure, why not. You’re in, kid.”



Hilfe jerked back in shock, “Really? It’s that easy?”



Out from under her desk, the pegasus pulled out a stack of papers that fell with a heavy thud, “I am not at liberty to talk about the demands of the castle and their requirements, nor the turnover rates of employees. However, what I can say is that your job provides housing, meals, dental and life insurance. And, of course, you will be paid this much.”



She shuffled through a few pages, resting her hoof on Hilfe’s final salary.



Hilfe gasped, “It’s that much?!”



“They always say that. But in accordance with new pony rights law, I must inform you that there is a small risk that, in the line of duty, you may be killed, maimed, suffer chemical burns, contract mesothelioma…”



The list was unending. Every possible workplace accident and environmental hazard was named. It felt more like Hilfe was being read a list of crimes she committed than a simple warning. She wanted to just turn back and head home, but couldn’t, knowing how much she would be losing out on.



“…to slavery, electrocuted, aaand we are not liable for any of it. Phew! That’ll always be a mouthful.” The pegasus laughed nasally to herself. “Alright, with that out of the way, you still want in?”



Hilfe bit her lip as her magic enveloped a nearby pen, it felt more like she was signing a deal with Grogar than applying for a job. In akin to ripping a band-aid off, the young mare scribbled her name, sealing her fate.



“Congratulations, welcome to the team.” The pegasus pushed up her glasses. “You’ll be working in tandem with the upper levels of the castle. Namely, the princesses. Lucky you!”



“The WHAT?! A-Are you serious?” Hilfe choked.



The receptionist unconsciously revealed a snide smile, “Listen, since you signed the papers, I’m gonna let you in on a secret. Only the desperate and dumb come to work here, especially as a maid, of all things. And let me tell you, you look too well fed to be desperate.”



Hilfe’s lip tightened, eyes almost popping out of her sockets. Her first day wasn’t even finished and she would be cleaning after the two most powerful ponies in Equestria. Just the thought of being in the same section of the castle as them started to make her a bit dizzy.



However, the pegasus’s smile disappeared. She rolled her eyes and out of annoyance, or guilt for her cruelty, she sighed, “You’ll be fine. Nobody wants to work with them because they constantly make messes and it’s back breaking work. Just keep your head down, say ‘Yes, your Majesty’ when they ask you to do something, and you do it.”



She passed Hilfe a slip with an employee number, “Here, this’ll tell you which maid quarters you belong to. Just talk to the head stewardess when you get there. You’ll work 6 days a week from dawn ‘til late afternoon, or if a princess tells you otherwise. Got it?”



Hilfe took the slip with her magic and read the tiny printed text, verifying her instructions. It was a long work week, but the mare tried to think of it no differently than all the chores she would do at home.



“Got it.” Hilfe answered confidently.



“Good.” The pegasus nodded, “Then I wish you luck and… Oh! I almost forgot.”



“What is it?”



The receptionist squinted her eyes as she quickly looked side to side, beckoning Hilfe with a curled wing. Carefully, she leaned over the counter and whispered out the side of her mouth, “I’m sure you already know how much a psychotic nut Celestia is.”



“No, but-”



“But she’s always lost in whatever thing she’s occupied in, just stay out of her way. But Luna on the other hand…”



Hilfe whispered, “What’s wrong with her?”



The pegasus shook her head and scoffed, “She’s just so weird! She’s always trying to force people into being her friend because she doesn’t know how to socialize. If she tries to do the same with you, just ignore her, and if you do it enough times she’ll leave you alone.”



“Thanks for the tip, I guess?” Hilfe nodded unassuredly, backing away from the desk.



“I get a bonus every time I hire someone, make sure you send your friends my way if they’re interested!” The pegasus waved.



Hilfe simply didn’t turn back as she lost herself in the crowd of wizards and socialites.



Before she could drop her belongings off, Hilfe’s first stop was at the uniform department. Because of her unusual size, there was only one outfit available, but it was just big enough for the young half unicorn to still look professional.



Through the various halls and corridors, Celestia’s castle felt less like its namesake and more like an entire city encapsulated under one roof. Hilfe was sure, if a pony was foolish enough, that the castle was so intricate and labyrinthian, they could easily get lost and starve to death. At least, that was one way to go.



Every so often, down certain quiet and unassuming corridors, a pair of masked guards would watch over the entrance to specific doorways. Hilfe would try to hurry past them, as their very presence would bring about dread and unease. Though she tried not to stare, it seemed as if their masks were nailed on. And while they were mostly covered in a cloak, their flesh that was exposed seemed pasty and gray, as if they were embalmed. A certain smell in the air made Hilfe consider it as such. Thankfully, however, they never seemed to move from their place, only ever interested in their exact position and whatever lay behind every guarded door.



After following the castle’s map, and asking for directions on more than one occasion, Hilfe finally made it to the maid’s quarters. She knocked on the door, which was answered by a stout, portly unicorn.



With pouted lips, the denim blue mare grumbled, “Yes, what is it? Is there another mess that needs to be cleaned?”



Hilfe smiled nervously, “Uh, no. Actually, I was hired to be a maid and they told me to come here.”



“Ah! Welcome aboard!” She said, throwing the door open for Hilfe. Only then did Hilfe realize how small the maid was, barely reaching the half unicorn’s chest. “I am the head stewardess of the upper subdivision of the castle.”



The stewardess motioned Hilfe in and shut the door behind them. Compared to the ornate and superfluous decoration of the rest of the castle, the maid’s quarters came across as plain and sterile. Stone walls held little decoration, and the floors, while seemingly made from slabs of concrete, were polished to an almost mirror-like sheen. There was a row of bunk beds on both sides of the long room that ended with a single window to the outside. At the foot end of every bunk, were a pair of lockers, no doubt to hold the belongings of the maids.



The stewardess pointed to the furthest bunk in the room, “You’ll be taking the bottom bed over there, and the trunk on the left is yours. I assume you already have your papers and uniform, dear?”



Hilfe handed the head stewardess her employment slip via an exchange of magic, “Here you go, Ma’am.”



“Wonderful! I’ll get you into the books immediately. I think you’re in luck, there’s an opening to have Saturday off if you’d like?” The rotund little unicorn asked as she waddled to the bookkeeping desk.



“Sure! I can’t be mad at that!” Hilfe nodded while placing her duffle bag on her bunk.



The head stewardess flipped open her scheduling book and began scribbling down Hilfe information. As she dotted her I’s and crossed her T’s, the elderly unicorn nodded, “I know I wouldn’t! There. You’re all set, dear.” With a burst of magic, everything flew back into its place. As she adjusted her uniform, she continued, “Now, I’d love to show you around, but me and the girls have been busy as of late. So, rest up for today, because I’ll be giving you a crash course on your duties first thing tomorrow!”



Before Hilfe could get a chance to thank her, the head mistress hurried out the door and closed it with a heavy clunk.



The maid’s quarters were quiet but hollow, much like pressing one’s ear against a seashell. The carpets from outside muffled every passerby’s hoofsteps, and only faint conversation and laughter were able to pierce through the door.



Taking this brief moment to be alone, Hilfe unloaded her duffle bag and sorted her belongings to put in her new locker. As she tried to organize her clothes and various hygiene products, she began to gather rhythm and meticulously store everything in an easily accessible manner.



She reached behind herself and felt her hoof tap against a hard, heavy object. The half unicorn looked back to see what it was, and lying on her bed, partially covered by her duffle bag, was a picture of her family during her high school graduation. Her father smiled stoically, her mother gently, both holding a squirming twin who were still wearing swaddlers at the time.



A deep pressure surrounded the young mare’s heart. She already missed her loving family, the pain of a betrayal of her own making, stabbing at her spine. Regret welled up in her eyes as she held the picture tightly. The mattress of her bunk squeaked with Hilfe lying upon it. There was a longing for home that pulled at her heart, but she knew she had to stay. Stay in the presence of a pony of incredible power, and limitless callousness.



‘Perhaps that receptionist had a point.’ Hilfe mulled over, ‘If I can just keep my head down, and not draw any attention to myself, then I think I can make it here, for them.’



A stray nail was embedded in between the large, smooth stones that made up the wall next to Hilfe’s bunk. It was only right for her to place her family there to keep her company.



Dusk settled in the room, a low hue from the falling sun painted the colorless walls a warm orange. The other maids would be coming back soon, Hilfe thought to herself. Perhaps it was best if the young mare got enough rest for the next day.



She fluffed up her pillow and closed her eyes. The young mare wouldn’t hear the other maids return as she drifted off into a deep dreamless sleep.



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My brain after battling with this piece for a month now.