//------------------------------// // II. Idea Warehouse // Story: Equestria Girls: It's Showtime--Imagination Movers: The Curse of the Creative Block // by PlymouthFury58 //------------------------------// Inside the fabled Idea Warehouse, it was business as usual.  Meaning to say, that there were no businesses occurring at the time.  The four men who were currently occupying the room were going about with their daily hobbies.  These were the Imagination Movers, all wearing matching blue jumpsuits, red lines down their left arms and red gear on the right shoulder, black sneakers, and their group logo on their backs.  Each of them also had their name tag plastered on their left breast area. Nearest to the main entrance was a man in a cowboy hat, glasses and a small goatee who had an extra pocket on his right leg.  He was currently whistling a gentle tune as he watered the plants on the three-level rack.  This was Mover Smitty, the guitarist for the band and researcher. Near where the closet was opened, a man with long hair, bigger goatee and a pair of specialized red goggles over his forehead was rubbing a cloth over a porcelain model of a brown burrow with a colorful carpet over its back.  He was very excited about his task, as evident from a small kiss he gave to its forehead.  This was Mover Scott, who played the most variety of instruments for the band and lover of everything burrows. Off to the east hallway, a man with curly hair underneath a backwards red baseball cap was a man tinkering with a set of tools on a homemade conveyer belt.  He wiped the sweat from his brow then got right back to hammering the metal with a mallet.  This was Mover Dave, the bassist for the band and inventor. In fact, it was Scott who said in a disembodied voice: “The Curse of the Creative Block,” which no one noticed whatsoever. As Smitty was repotting a plant, a brown mouse with orange hair and black beady eyes popped out of the pot in question, startling Smitty. “Oh, sorry, little buddy,” he apologized.  “I didn’t see you there.” This was Warehouse Mouse, the resident furry wall mouse of the Idea Warehouse. “‘Mitty, ‘Mitty, ‘Mitty, ‘Mitty!” Warehouse Mouse exclaimed, holding up a small block of cheese. “Oh, you were hiding your cheese in the empty pot,” Smitty realized. “Uhuh.” “It’s alright, little buddy.  I’ll find another pot for this plant.” At that moment, jogging out of the west hallway and wearing a jogging outfit also stylized around gears, was the last of the Movers.  He had black hair and a long extra pocket along his right calf.  This was Mover Rich, the drummer and lead vocalist of the band and resident athlete. “Hey, Rich,” Scott waved as Rich jogged up to the fridge, “how’s it going?” Rich took out a glass of milk, drinking it as his body relaxed.  “Mmm, it’s going great, Scott.  I was just taking a jog around the Warehouse and I managed to beat my record.” “Awesome!” “Hey, that’s great!” Dave complimented. Rich then looked at the reader.  “Exercising is very important to keep your body in shape.” “So is eating your fruits and vegetables,” Smitty added, repotting his plant. “It also helps me come up with new ideas.” “Yeah, that happens to me too,” Dave said.  “Sometimes I get so focused on my inventions, I come up with new ideas for inventions while I’m inventing!” “Yeah!” Scott beamed.  “It’s just like when I’m polishing my porcelain burrow, I suddenly start thinking of whales!” The response was the rest of the Movers to exchange bemused and confused looks, even from Warehouse Mouse. Scott soon realized the awkwardness of the situation and quickly rebounded, “Uh…hey!  Have we got any new messages?” “I don’t know.  Let’s find out!” Rich replied, pressing the messaging button on their Warehouse phone. “You have...one new message, surprisingly,” the phone voice answered. Suffice to say, this was cause for excitement among the Movers. “Yeah!  A new customer!” “We never got any voicemails before!” Scott said, replacing his porcelain burrow before joining the others around the phone. “Well, people don’t exactly use phone books anymore these days,” the phone retorted. The Movers nodded.  “That’s true,” Dave said. “Can you play the message for us?” Smitty asked. “Of course I can.  What do you think I am, television?” “That does sound cool,” Scott said. There was a slight awkward silence that followed, even from the phone. Scott sheepishly grinned.  “Sorry.” “Ahem, before I was interrupted,” the phone said, “here is the message.” A loud beep was heard from the speaker, followed by a young girl’s voice. “Hello?  Is this the Imagination Movers?” “That’s us!” the Movers replied.  Of course the speaker could not respond to them. “My name is Rarity Belle, and I have…a situation, that needs…imagination.” “Huh.  Somehow it sounds less cool when other people say it,” Scott remarked. “Now, if only I could find the address…oh, where is it under all of this miniscule text?  Uh, Applejack, darling?  Can you help me?  I can’t seem to find the address.” Now another young girl’s voice entered the message, but instead her accent was that of a stereotypical western cowgirl. “Somethin’ the matter, Rares?” “I can’t seem to find the address in this small text.” “Darn phone books.” “Now we know why people don’t use phone books anymore,” Scott remarked. “Yep,” Dave said. “Uhuh,” Smitty added. “Ah, here it is,” the cowgirl said.  “Ain’t tha’ far away.  C’mon, we’ll take the truck.” “Just a second,” the first girl said.  “I have to finish my message.” “Jus’ hang up.  Ah’m pretty sure they got—” A sudden click later and the message finished. “Okay, so…I haven’t done this in a while and I’ve forgotten what the procedure is,” the phone said after a brief silence. “Thanks,” the Movers said. “So, when do you think they will arrive?” Dave asked. Just then, the doorbell rang. “Right now!” Scott beamed. “A customer!” the Movers cheered. Smitty quickly stopped Rich.  “Uh, Rich?  You might want to change.” “Oh, right,” Rich replied, speeding off and back again in his matching blue jumpsuit. Soon, all four Movers stood at attention before the front door, waiting anxiously as Dave answered the door.  Rarity and Applejack were surprised by the sudden answer. “Is this…the Idea Warehouse?” Rarity asked. “Yes it is,” Rich smiled.  “I’m Rich.” “I’m Dave.” “I’m Smitty.” “And I’m Scott!  We’re the Imagination Movers!” Warehouse Mouse suddenly popped up, startling Rarity. “Ah!  A mouse!” Applejack stepped between the two.  “Woah now there, little fella.” “Oh, that’s Warehouse Mouse,” Smitty explained.  “It’s alright, he’s very friendly.” Despite the reassurance, the little brown mouse huffed with indignity before scampering off, but not before he grabbed a crumb of cheese left on the table. “Sorry about that,” Rich said. “It’s quite alright,” Rarity calmed down.  “In all honesty, I should not be so surprised by these kinds of situations.” “One of our friends takes care ‘a little critters like yer Warehouse Mouse,” Applejack explained. “Even burrows?” Scott said, making a pleadin sort of face. “…once in a while.” The Mover in question responded with a blissful smile on his face. Smitty quickly brought him back to the Idea Warehouse.  “Scott.” Scott meekly jumped.  “Sorry.” “Anyway, you said you had a problem.” “Yes,” Rarity sadly replied.  “It has been troubling.” “Don’t worry,” Dave assured.  “You’ve come to the right place.” “We’re the Imagination Movers,” Rich added.  “Solving problems is what we do best.” “We could certainly use some imagination fer our situation,” Applejack said. This caused the Movers to laugh good-heartedly, bringing in the laughs from their customers as well. “That’s a good one!” Scott beamed. “Thank ya.” After their little laughing session quickly cleared up, Smitty began the conversation.  “So, what’s the problem?” Rarity became somber.  “Oh, it’s simply dreadful.  I’m a fashion designer, you see, and I am hoping to find a career with my talents in the future.” “Sounds fun!” Scott offered.  “I have all kinds of crazy clothes.” “You should have seen what he was wearing yesterday,” Dave grinned.  “There was this big hat…” “And this big shirt…” Smitty added. “And these massive shoes,” Rich finished. “I looked just like a human burrow!” Scott beamed with pride.  “Hee haw!” To the shock of the girls, the Movers all bounced around playfully while imitating the sounds of the common burrow.  Scott of course was taking the best advantage of his one love. “Goodness gracious.  Is this what they do in their spare time?” Rarity starred. “They sure are a rowdy bunch,” Applejack nodded. After a brief bout of uproaring laughter, Rich turned back to the girls.  “Sorry about that.  Please continue.” “Yes, now where was I?” “You were hoping to find a career with your talents in the future?” Scott offered. “Ah, yes.”  Rarity sighed.  “I discovered it yesterday, and I had hoped that it would go away but it got worse.  Of all the worst possible things that could have happened, this is the!  Worst!!  POSSIBLE!!!  THING!!!!” She paused to catch her breath from her sudden freakout. “I discovered that I have a Creative Block!” “CREATIVE BLOCK?!!!” Suddenly, every one of the Movers lurched back gasping with horrified facial expressions, while Scott ducked for cover behind Dave and Smitty.  Warehouse Mouse heard the entire commotion from inside his home-in-the-wall, shrugging as he continued to watch his favorite TV program. Smitty recovered first.  “Oh, boy!  That’s a problem if I ever heard one!” “Creative Blocks scare me!” Scott whimpered, “even more so than the dark!” Rarity buried her face in her hands as she went over and slumped into the sofa.  “This could not have been more hopeless.” “What’s wrong?” Dave asked. “I have to complete an order for a client that needs to be delivered by tomorrow, but this Creative Block just so happened to hit me right as I was working on the final design!”  She then got down on her knees in a praying position, near on bawling her eyes out.  “Help me, Imagination Movers!  You are my only hope!” While Applejack scoffed at the dramatic antics of her friend, she could feel the pain she was experiencing eating at her own soul to see poor Rarity in such distress. “Don’t worry, Rarity,” Rich assured with a smile.  “You came to the right place.” “That’s right,” Smitty added.  “We can solve any problem, and trust me, we’ve all been through our own Creative Blocks before.” “Sometimes when I feel like my inventions are going right, I suddenly feel like they’re going wrong,” Dave offered. “Sometimes I struggle to find the right beat for a new song,” Rich added. “And sometimes I get so stressed out, I forget how to tie my shoes!” Scott cried, displaying the mangled knots of his left shoelaces. “Yeah, we all go through somethin’ er other like this,” Applejack agreed. A series of nods circulated among the group, even from the distressed young fashionista. “Guys, this is quite a problem," Dave said. “You're right! It's not just any problem,” Scott said. “It’s an…” “Idea Emergency!” the guys finished together. By the entrance, a blaring siren sounded out, startling the girls. “We need to figure out…” Rich began. “How to help Rarity overcome her Creative Block…” Dave continued. “So she can finish her deadline on time…” Smitty picked up. “And that means we need some good ideas!” Scott finished. “Let’s brainstorm!” the guys said together. And so began that famous routine that has become synonymous with the Imagination Movers.  With Rich and his Scribble-Sticks, Scott and his Wobble-Goggles, Dave and his Gadget-Hat, and Smitty and his Journal, the guys came together in a storming cloud in the room that blew everything away that wasn’t nailed down. Rarity went for cover holding onto Applejack while the farm girl held onto her Stetson for dear life, all the while watching with wonder as the guys sang about thinking of ideas while images of a piece of blank paper and pencil, a pillow, a fancy portrait, and a fishing rod flew out of Smitty’s Journal. All the while the guys were dancing around like crazed monkeys, ending with Warehouse Mouse singing the repeating final lyric with a cartoonishly deep voice for a mouse. “Reach high!” Rich raised his hands up. “Think big!” Dave spread his arms out. “Work hard!” Scott flexed his muscles. “Have fun!” Smitty pumped his fist in the air, ending the song with the guys putting their hands together before pumping them up with great enthusiasm. And just like that, any semblance of that Brainstorm had disappeared as soon as it appeared. “Whoo!  Now that felt good,” Rich said. “No Creative Block for me over here!” Scott chimed in. “Nor me,” Dave added. “Same over here,” Smitty added, shivering at the impeccable thought. “Wut just happened?” Applejack mumbled, straightening her hat. “We were brainstorming,” Smitty explained. “It’s how we come up with so many new ideas.” “It’s very fun to do once you get the general idea of it,” Scott added. “Yeah!”  Dave pulled out a lightbulb from his hat, smiling like a proud kid on Christmas as it brightened in his hand.  “So many good ideas!” “Now Ah know how Pinkie feels…”