Restrictive Gifts.
"...Is it already time for the Summer Sun Celebration? Has it really been that quick? I swear, it felt like just yesterday it was Hearths Warming Eve..."
"Oh, I /know/. Why my little Ether Iridescent is just so excited. She always loves being there when it's time for Celestia to raise the sun."
"Again with your kid...? I swear, how many years have you been working here, and you /still/ harp about your kid?"
"Summer Sun Celebration, huh?" A little filly mumbled to herself, her voice mixed with many emotions. Curiousity, hope, but most of all, dissapointment. "...Must be fun..."
The little filly, just a year out of foalhood, was sitting next to the door, a cup next to the door, while listening to it intently. It was one of the only things the child had to pass the time, besides gazing out the window longling with a deep envy of the ponies walking the streets of Canterlot below, or actually muddling through the piles and piles of books stacked on the desk.
It was a fluke actually, that little Delightful here was able to figure out the old trick with the cup. Or even being able to keep the cup. Without any reprercussions at least. No cup meant no water to go with her bread and carrot. She had to take care of that one cup very well, because she wouldn't be provided with another one.
"Your father wanted to teach you the value of appreciation of what you have, and the ability to empathize with those you'd eventually have to look after." The filly remembered her teacher lecturing her. How she hated that pony. "Therefore, you must know what it's like in your subordinate's horseshoes. And you must be able to take care of your belongings as well young Lady."
The filly scowled at the memory, remembering how she went hungry for a few days because she had accidentally knocked the containers off her desk when reaching for another book she had to read. It was by pure chance that a maid had came to feed her, rather than her teacher, and was kind enough to provide her a new cup after she had 'lost' hers.
"Oh, speaking of kids-"
"SHHHH. I know what you're gonna ask, and you already know it. Mention it, and we'd get fired alright? So hush it."
"Ah... Poor girl..."
The filly sighed, and put the cup down. "...So I guess it's a no then?"
Delightful trudged over to the window, where she could just /barely/ see the pavalon that the princess raised the sun. Though it was the middle of the night, and kids like her should've been in bed already on a normal night, she just couldn't sleep. Nor could anypony else, after all it was going to be the longest day of the year. Everyone wanted to be awake to see it start.
Not like it mattered to little Payne. Summer, winter, spring, or fall, she'd be stuck in that room.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and that was a cue for the filly to get straight to her desk, and pretend she was studying. When the door opened, she jumps out of her chair, and immediately stood at attention.
"...Ah good, Payne. You were studying I hope?" Said a familiar voice.
"Yes Sir!" She barked obediently, trying her best not to look too discontented. But some slipped by.
"...Ah, dissapointed about the fact you can't go to the Summer Sun Celebration?" Her teacher asked.
"No sir! Not at all sir!" Again, she barked like a soldier. This time more sure not to let her actuall feelings leak out.
"Good, good. A good leader makes sure not to let their subordinates know their worries." The teacher continued, looking out the window. "You are making some good progress Miss Payne. I'll inform your father, and he will start bringing you with him to the guard post."
He then left, and Payne sighed. The filly wasn't sure how she felt about finally going out to the guards post. She knew what was coming, her father was going to get her to show her 'intellgence, and abilities' so everypony could see her as the perfect leader. Good preparation for the family's reputation, and for Payne Sr.'s.
She looked out the window, and saw what looked like a pair of brothers, a small black colt, and a slightly older white colt, charging along. She glared at them, almost jealous of the two seeingly happy and having fun. Those kinds of ponies her father called 'peasants'.
"...Why can't I just be a normal filly...?" She mumbled to herself, leaving the window.
***
The little black colt looked up, and seemingly noticed something in the window. Bopping his older brother on the head, he pointed to where he thought he saw something.
The older brother stopped, and looked up at where his little brother was pointing. He thought he saw a young pony, but he wasn't so sure.
"...Come on Gnafy, we're gonna be late if we don't hurry." He urged, and the two continued on.