//------------------------------// // Pink and Yellow // Story: Tech support: Troubleshooting is Magic // by DrZed //------------------------------// Applejack, Dash and I return to the town square, Applejack strutting as she the tows the big tank cart up next to the fountain, followed by Dash and myself with the cargo carts. Parking the carts, I notice it's mid afternoon, and construction efforts around the town square are in full swing, starting with the least destroyed homes. Dash flits up to me, gives me a grin and a salute, then zips off to collect rain clouds. Applejack joins me as we head back to the HQ tent, where Twilight is checking off some of the completed repairs on a long scroll. "Hey Twilight!" Applejack gives her a shout. "We're back!" Twilight turns and smiles, "What's up?" "Reporting in. We have 3 tanks repaired and Rainbow Dash is filling the main one now." I indicate the over-sized one parked in the square. Twilight smile widens, "That's great! It'll help a lot that we don't have to send ponies to the lake." She turns and looks at the map. "If you can put the other carts here and here" She draws in a wheeled box with a water drop inside it on three places on the map, then adding it to a growing legend at the bottom, "Then that will cover us until the pumps are fixed." AJ smiles and gives me a hoof bump, "Good work pardner! Ah'll go take care of the other two." She flags down a large red earth stallion with an orange mane and they head back to the cart lot. I wave as she heads off. Turning back to Twilight I open my mouth to speak when my stomach growls like a caged wolverine. I wince. "Heh, 'scuse me." Twilight gives me an amused look, "Haven't you eaten yet?" "Not since breakfast in the castle." Twilight shakes her head, "Sounds like me after an all night study session. Please, take a break and eat. Sugarcube Corner is giving free meals to all the workers. It's right here." She taps a spot on the map that has what looks like a gingerbread house drawn on it. I nod, "Thank you, Miss Sparkle." and take a good look at the map, turning and orienting myself. "I won't be too long." "Just call me Twilight." She gives a little smirk, "Take your time. You've already been a big help." "Thanks Twilight." I head to the west, past a row of houses, nodding to other ponies, many still hard at work. Before long I come to what looks like... a shop made of cake and frosting... Sugarcube Corner lives up to it's name so far... A bell chimes as I open the door and step in to a heavenly smell that makes my mouth water and my stomach rumble again. I step up and wait in line behind a grey pegasus mare with a blonde mane. "Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!" A light blue earth mare in an apron with a swirly two toned pink mane that resembles frosting on a cupcake greets me with a smile as she carries out a tray of pastries to a table on her back. I smile and nod back, "Good afternoon!" A square-jawed yellow earth stallion with an orange mane and a striped bow tie comes up behind the counter with a bag, which he mouths to the grey mare at the head of the line. "Here ya go Derpy, a fresh batch!" "Muffins! Thanks Mr. Cake!" She said gleefully, grabbed the bag with her mouth and trotted off with a bounce in her step. "How can I help you?" Mr Cake looks at me and my odd collection of tools, "Oh, you must be one of the construction workers! Feeling hungry?" I grin, "Yeah!" He smiles, "Take a seat, and I'll have Pinkie bring out your meal." He gestures over to a booth. I take off the harness and tools and store it in my saddle bag, then take a seat. placing my bag next to me. Stretching, I tilt my head back and forth, coaxing a couple pops form my neck and sit back. Mr Cake comes by and slides a tall glass of ice water with a straw onto the table. "She'll be out in little bit." "Thanks!" I smile and take a drink. "Our pleasure, ponies gotta eat if they are gonna fix the town. If you need anything just ask." Mr Cake goes back behind the counter to attend to another customer. I cross my front legs on the table and rest my head, closing my eyes. Certainly a friendly bunch here, so much nicer than the KP ponies in the mess hall. My ears swivel as I half listen to the ambient conversation and kitchen noises... *poing* *poing* Huh?... poing? *poing* *poing* It's getting closer... I open my eyes and sit up, glancing about. Facing me to my left is a very pink earth mare, light pink fur and a pink mane and tail that looks like it was styled in a cotton candy machine. Large light blue eyes stare at me over a wide grin, she's holding up a platter with one of her hooves. I blink and sit back realizing I am blocking the tabletop, "Oh, 'scuse me." I pull my legs back. She sets the tray down in front of me, then chirps "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! You must be the new pony in town my Pinkie Sense has been telling me about!" She bounces up and down on her hooves. She's making the 'poing' sound.... "What?! New pony? Pinkie sense?" I tilt my head. "Yeah! Anytime there's a new pony in Ponyville I get this tingling in my knees, and I just meet you and it stopped! I haven't seen you before so you must be new! Yay! I need to get more ballons! Those meaniepants parasprites ate all the balloons I had before I built the one-pony-band and marched them outta town! You don't know how hard it is to find a trombone in a crisis! I had to run all over town..." She was still talking nonstop, bouncing like a rubber ball... "...they were eating all the apples! Then Twilight zapped them with a spell that made them stop eating food and..." Wait. What? I shake my head again, A spell? I lost it in the stream of syllables and bouncing. "...the entire Town! I had to hurry so I started playing and..." By this time I felt my eyes starting to roll around in their sockets. Then a butter yellow hoof taps Pinkie Pie on the shoulder a few times. "... and it lands on Princess Celestia and she thought they were cute! Ugh! Gross!" She shudders, then turns her head, "Oh, Hi Fluttershy! I was just saying hi to the new pony in town!" I shake my head for a moment to clear it, then lean forward to see who my erstwhile rescuer is. To Pinkie's right is a yellow pegasus mare who sees me, squeaks and tries to hide behind a pink mane and tail that is quite possibly bigger than the rest of her. I tilt my head, "Umm, hi?" Another high pitched squeak, and she hides behind Pinkie. Flutter-Shy. I get it. I give her a little wave, shrug, and turn back to Pinkie. "Anyway, thanks for the meal." "Sure! Enjoy!" She grins, then turns to Fluttershy and they walk/ bounce off. Two loaded DLT(daisy, lettuce, tomato) sandwiches, a pile of hay fries and a thick slice of carrot cake for dessert. Oh yeah... I tuck in.