//------------------------------//
// Meet the Belles 
// Story: Tech support: Troubleshooting is Magic 
// by DrZed 
//------------------------------//

My orders are to report to the City Hall, which is a hive of activity:

Ponies on makeshift scaffolding replacing more bitten wood and roofing.
Ruined furniture, carts and boards being carted to a large pile at one side of the town square, where several ponies are sifting through it for whatever can be salvaged.

Looking at the town, I've seen less devastation after a Minotaur stampede, but the townsponies are working resolutely, Even the foals are helping, pulling small carts laden with food and drink.

"HI MISTER!" 

I leap about a foot in the air as a sudden loud high pitched greeting startles me out my appraisal. "Gyaah!"

I practically turn around in midair, almost losing my saddlebags in the process as I spot the source, a grinning white unicorn foal with a pink and lavender mane and tail, hitched to a cart carrying bolts of canvas of numerous colors.

"Errm, Hi" I smile weakly. When my heart slows a little I ask her, "Can you tell me who's in charge here?"

She giggles, "That depends on who you ask." She starts moving again, "Follow me."

"What?" Confused, I shrug and match the foal's pace. 

"What's your name mister?" She looks over at me.

"Call me Zed."

"I'm Sweetie Belle!"

"Pleasure to meet you Sweetie Belle, What did you mean by depends on who you ask?"

She giggles, "Well Mayor Mare is in charge of the town, but everybody knows Twilight is in charge of the repairs!"

I pause, "Wait, Twilight Sparkle?"

"Yeah, Do you know her?"

I shake my head, "No, Not yet." I pick up the pace and draw even with her.

"Not yet? Oh you're new here, aren't you?" 

"You could say that."

Sweetie bounces up and down "Yay! That means another party!"

"Huh?!"

"You'll find out soon enough. Here she is!" Sweetie slows to a stop, and I look up and see what looks a lot like an HQ for a major military campaign.

Maps,of the town, lists and diagrams adorn the makeshift walls of a large open tent, crowded with ponies of all kinds. I hear one voice primarily speaking with the occasional reply, usually "Yes maam!" 

Suspended in a haze of purple magic are several long pointer sticks indicating places on the map and apparently duty rosters and repair instructions. 

"Wow."

Sweetie giggles, "I know, right? She is really good at taking charge."

"Sweetie belle? Where are you?" a voice calls from another tent nearby, Apparently supplies considering the stacks of wood, barrels of nails and other materials.

Sweetie grins, "Over here, Sis!"

Another white unicorn steps into view, pristine, even considering the conditions, her deep purple mane partially wrapped in a scarf, "Oh there you are, Sweetie Belle. Bring that over here and we'll get it sorted." She pauses a moment, "Who is this fellow with you?" she asks as she scrutinizes me, in particular the dark scar crossing my muzzle and left cheek.

"This is Mr Zed, I found him near the train station. He's here to see Twilight!"

"Just Zed is fine" I nod to Sweetie's sister, "I was assigned to assist with the repairs."

"Oh marvelous! We can always use more help! I'm Rarity, Owner of the Carousel Boutique." She indicates with a hoof a round white building across the town square that, despite the damage, still looks impressively elegant. She pauses in her levitating the bolts of cloth over to a table, glancing back at me "Assigned? By whom?" 

I nod, "The Princesses sent me. Lieutenant Zed Gemfire at your service." I bow.

"Oh my, a Royal guard? Are they expecting trouble?" 

"Not that I know of. I'm just good at fixing things." With that, I open the second set of saddle bags and fasten the tool harness around my neck and barrel, levitating some of my own equipment, a chainmail and leather pouch attaching itself to the side of my harness as well as some gem embedded gadgets.

Rarity's eyes go wide, "What are those?" Her eyes twinkle slightly as she approaches, "They're gorgeous!"

I blink, "Umm" I lift out the array of tools, "Let's see, Light amplifying measuring device and projection straight edge, need to come up with a shorter name for that.... Rotary drill... Impact multiplication hammer... Air compression unit... " I sift through the pouch and lift out a series of  round saw blades, "Diamond tipped rotary cutting blades... respirator mask and safety goggles. Just some of the stuff I invented while in school."

Rarity winces when she realizes that the gold wire inlaid handles and gems in platinum mounts are not made for beauty, instead they are magically enhanced tools. "Well they are lovely.... "

"Oh well, thank you, These are still prototypes." I grin.

Sweetie Belle squeals, "COOL!" She bounces up and down. 

Rarity puts a hoof across her chest, "I suppose." She says somewhat dismissively, stepping back and floating the rest of the canvas from the cart and onto the table, beginning to sort them by color.

I blink and shrug, floating the tools back onto my harness "Well, I guess I need to check in with Twilight and see how I can help. It was a pleasure meeting you Rarity, You too Sweetie Belle." 

"Bye Mr Zed!" Sweetie calls before she heads back off to the train station.

I wave a hoof and turn back to head into the crowd at the HQ tent.