After the Mayday celebrations, the folk of Ponyville found themselves in a busy summer.
One morning couple of weeks after Mayday Big McIntosh came into the town with a cart full of apples ready for market. He could just about squeeze between the houses making up the narrow streets with his load.
But he didn’t expect something of a traffic jam in the middle of the village. Cipher as usual after acquiring it left his auto-magic cart parked outside the Post Office, but some-pony else left a peculiar vehicle on the side of the road.
This, thing, looked like a small railway engine, with a smokebox sticking out of the front with a tall outward tapering funnel sitting on top of two small wheels connected to a pair of chains. Behind the smokebox, a pair of pistons and an array of rods, cracks and a large flywheel. Then the enclosed cab with levers, gauges, chains and large wheel with a handle. The back simple a flat bed with three guard rails able to be pulled down. Underneath a larger pair of wheels and thick chain wrapped around a cogwheel. Around the machine lamps and works of gleaming brass and copper.
Big Mac carefully threaded himself through the two. He then looked back as far as he could on the Post Office side to see if he could get the cart through, “Yep.” He stepped forward a couple of trots. Looked to the other side, he inched forward. The edge of the cart hit the front wheel of the steam engine “Nope.” He backed up and inches sideways slightly. Trotted forward. Hit the front of the Post Cart, “Nope.”, he looked at the other side, and then he sighed, now well and truly stuck.
Trotting came from down the street and he looked up. From around the corner lightly trotted a cerise mare with a trio of smiling flowers for a cutie mark.
Big Mac grinned, Miss Cheerilee, not only a closest friend of his, and admittedly a mare he held a crush over ever since his teenage days, and his sort of friend, neither really talked much since the Hearts and Hooves Day with the Love Poison, and with other concerns in his relationship department. Not only a close friend but also a very smart mare, a school teacher needed to be.
She smiled at him and stopped “Good morning Big Mac.”
“Morning.”
“Nice weather.”
“Yep.”, Cheerilee then glanced at the lack of space between the two vehicles and the width of the apple cart. She looked back at him “Are you stuck Big Mac?”
He nodded “Yep.”, she frowned “Well, I need to get to the schoolhouse. Where’s Cipher, he and Riolu left before I did.”, she walked about the street and called out several times “Cipher?”
The door to the Post Office opened and Muffins walked out “Sorry but Cipher’s doing to village rounds, he’ll back soon.” She then went inside before returning with a basket “Muffin?”
Cheerilee smiled and shrugged before taking two. She gave one to Big Mac “Care for one?”
“Yep.” He took it in his hoof.
Cheerilee took a bite and swallowed “Well, if Cipher isn’t here then maybe we should move that, whatever it is? Does any-pony have any idea what it might be, or who owns it?”
“Nope.”
“Sorry, I didn’t see it until coming out here.” Muffins then re-entered to Post Office.
The beating of wings filled the air, which got stirred as well as Rainbow Dash landed “This looks serious, has there been a crash?”, Cheerilee shook her head and started to look annoyed “Well, there will be if some-pony doesn’t move that, thing.”
Rainbow Dash walked up to it “What in Celestia’s name is this? Looks like it should be on the rails not in middle of Ponyville.”
Big Mac raised a hoof “We can’t do anything till either Cipher or whoever owns that arrives.”, Rainbow Dash blinked “I think that first time I’ve heard you say a proper sentence unassisted.”
Big Mac pounded before saying “Yep.”, Cheerilee rolled her eyes “We need some-pony like Flash or Dauntless.”
From behind the apple cart a steady beat of hooves and slight clatter sounded. It stopped before some-pony called “Now then, now then, what’s all thing?” The helmeted head of Dauntless Doo appeared in the gap between the apple cart and the steam engine. “What’s going on? You can’t block the road like this you know.”
Cheerilee sighed, she said Dauntless and he appeared, she then firmly stated “Big Mac’s stuck.”
“Yep.”
“And he didn’t do it on propose.”
“Nope.”, Rainbow nodded “Between that, thing and Cipher’s cart.”
They all then started talking at once, well, Cheerilee and Rainbow Dash did, Big Mac added the occasionally “Yep,” and “Nope.”
The Everfree Guard Unicorn meanwhile reared up and inched, with is back to the wall, beside the unknown vehicle. Once on the other side and back on his four hooves he called for silence “Wait a minute, wait a minute.” He calmed slightly “Now then,” he looked up “Hello, that lamp’s damaged.” He muttered tapping it. He then addressed the group “Now then, let’s get things sorted out. Who does this contraption belong to?”
Cheerilee rolled her eyes again, this would probably take a while.
Cipher meanwhile hummed as both he and Riolu hurried through the village with the letters in his saddle bag. While Cipher checked the addresses and the letters Riolu attacked like a guard dog. News of his ability to physically harm Discord gave the pup a slightly fearsome reputation, and he could be easily riled, especially if some-pony lied in front of him, or tried attack Cipher.
After Cipher put another letter through the slot on the door, a soft shout, an oxymoron yes, but it was the best she could muster, called him, he turned around and his heat beat a little faster, Riolu gave a happy bark.
Fluttershy fluttered towards them, she smiled “You’re becoming forgetful.” She showed him a small box wrapped in brown paper and string “You left last night after our little tea party together and you forget the box of tea bags I got for you at the market.”
Yesterday being a Sunday meant Cipher didn’t have any post to deliver and so decided to spend the time helping Fluttershy with her animals, then they would spend the evening having tea.
She gave the box over “Special delivery.”, they chuckled and Cipher looked at it “Just like a parcel. I’d better not put them in some-pony’s letterbox by mistake.” He further examined it “You’re very good at wrapping Fluttershy.” He put it in the saddle bag “A lot better than some parcels we get through.”
She smiled, but with a faint blushed “Well if you do you can always come to the cottage.”, she took off slowly and waved “Bye.”, he waved as well “Bye, and thanks.”
Back at the traffic jam, the group still didn’t know anything about the mysterious engine and so tried to manoeuvre Big Mac so the apple cart could get through.
Dauntless, reared up, directed the larger stallion with his hoof “Left a bit, come on. Now over to your right. Stop! Left again. Now a little to your right. Straight now, straight. Stop! That’s it, hard over now.”
Big Mac grumbled ‘Left he says, then right. I wish he’d make up his mind.’
“Keep to you’re right.” Dauntless called “Back up a little.”, Big Mac didn’t stop in time and hit the wheel of the steam engine. Dauntless tutted “Back again. Come straight on.”, beside the Royal Guard Member Cheerilee shook her head “He’ll never get through there. Big Mac stop. Over to the left, mind the cart.”
Rainbow then joined in “Come on Big Mac. Stop! Back up. Hard on your left. Stop! You’ll have to go back again. Now hard over to your left. No! No!”
Just behind the odd vehicle Major Fields, Porter and Doctor Time Turner watched the proceeding, the Major chuckled “What have we here?”, the doctor shook his head “You can’t leave the place five minutes and look at it.”
Rainbow continued “Back a little. Now hard over to your… Whoops! Mind the cart! No right. Right I said!”
After the last set of orders Big Mac finally sat down on his flank, his hooves went to his muzzle “You all got me confused. I’m staying put until some-pony move that steam engine.”
Time Turner inched his way along the driver’s side “Hang on a minute.” He opened to door to the cab and clambered in “I’ll give you a hoof.” He shut the door.
Cheerilee blinked “This is yours Time Turner?”
“It’s my latest invention, ever since I got my cart stuck in that mud puddle and Miss Gabriella had to push me out I tried thinking of something which wouldn’t get stuck in mud or, say snow. I know I can’t operate an auto-magic cart, since I don’t have the right magic, so I had to think of an alternative. Miss Heartstrings mention about something called a Lorry and thus I built this.”
The Major inched himself between the Lorry and the apple cart and stopped at passenger door and Porter climbed onto the back with a bunch of building material. The Major spoke “So sorry every-pony. Doctor Turner’s giving us a hoof down at the hall. He’s test running the Lorry.” He opened to door and climbed in “First traffic jam in Ponyville. How embarrassing. We’ll soon be off.” He said shutting the door.
Cipher and Riolu walked up onto the scene “Good morning every-pony.”
The Major called over “Just a word Cipher?”, the Changeling came closer and the Major whispered “Urgent parcel coming from Canterlot. Bought these tin soldiers for my collection. Now take good care of it, there’s a good chap.”
Cipher smiled “Don’t worry Major. I’ll see you get it safe and sound, the way you always do.”
“Good fellow.”, Time Turner muttered “Water level’s alright. Dampers opened. Pressure up. Gears set. Regulator a bit open. Off we go.” He pulled the whistle cord, any-pony in the way quickly edge to the walls as the odd machine lumbered down the road, shuddering and chuffing.
Big Mac stood up, at last about to get on his way, he started following behind. He smiled at Cheerilee as he passed. She smiled back, once the large Apple stallion disappeared she moved off in the other direction, followed by Rainbow Dash. Cipher walked into the Post Office. Leaving Dauntless Doo and Riolu with the road to themselves. The Everfree Guard member thought ‘I’ll need to report this the Captain Sentry, then Princess Twilight and Mayor Mare can work out parking laws in the village.’
Inside the Post Office Cipher helped Muffins sort the rest of the letters and parcels. The Post Minister she suffered strabismus for, well, she couldn’t remember when she did, it developed over a year or two as a young filly, having gone through a failed corrective surgery as a pre-teen filly, she did oddly find it useful in her only special way, she could hold up two letters and read the addresses at the same time. Of course, most of the suffers of strabismus she’d meet couldn’t do something like that. She could straighten her eyes but she always felt more comfortable with them unaligned, even if she did end up bumping into things.
As she finished with the letters she discovered two parcels without addresses. She looked around and found a label which must have come unstuck, the tutted “This new glue, the labels keep coming off.” She looked between the two “Now which one does this label go on?”
Cipher scratched his head “I think it’s off that one.” And he pointed to the one on his left and Muffin’s right. Muffins narrowed her eyes but stuck the label on “But that leaves one without an address.”
“Don’t worry.” Cipher said filling his saddle bag “As soon as some-pony askes ‘Where’s my parcel?’ I’ll know it must be theirs. Simple.”
Muffins smiled “I never thought of that.” She gave him the parcels “Bye Cipher. Mind how you go.”
“Bye.” He walked out the door, shutting as he left and went to his cart and got him “Now Riolu, we’d better deliver the Major’s parcel first, it’s something important.”, the Jakhowl nodded. Cipher charged his horn and the cart roared into life. He took the reins and flicked them, the cart moved. Using to reins to steer he guided the cart out of the village and out into the countryside surrounding it the settlement.
Driving on the roads of Ponyville proved a really crash course, sharp bends and small hills, you could easily crash. Riolu acted as a lookout, although sometimes he could be a backseat, or in this case and passenger seat driver.
They stopped at a junction and looked both ways, nothing came from either side so Cipher turned left. He followed the road straight, he could see Sweet Apple Arches in the distance as he saw the large estate of Kimblewick Hall appeared before him. He then reached the gates and turned into the driveway.
The front of the stately and ancient manor house loomed over the cart. However, the scaffolding and ladders on the left side tarnished its imposing appearance.
Cipher climbed down “Won’t be long Riolu.” He gazed up at the web of metal “Looks like the Major’s busy.” He walked to the door and pulled on the bell cord, the muffled ring echoed behind the large wooden door. After a moment of nothing Cipher pulled the cord again. He shifted on his hooves and hummed to himself.
Still nothing happened, Cipher frowned ‘I could have sworn the bell was working?’ he knocked and the door creaked open making him flinch “Whoops.” He peered into the entrance hall and heard the ticking of the clock “Um? Any-pony in?” No-pony replied.
“Hello? Major? Major Fields? Mr Porter?”, slowly he walked in “Uh, any-pony at home?”, again silence. Cipher gingerly shuffled towards the small cabinet sitting in one of the corners ‘I’ll leave the parcel here. I’ll be safe.” He placed it on the cabinet and turned to leave.
A thump! Sounded. Cipher looked to one of the closed doors, the sound must have come from there being muffled ‘What’s that?’, he waited. Silence filled the hall once more. Cipher shrugged ‘I must be imagining things.’ And he walked out, and shut the front door.
Outside Cipher glanced around ‘Where is every-pony?’ He trudged over towards the ladder, look up to see if any-pony stood atop it before walking under it and glanced around at the toolbox and the scattered tools. Cipher shrugged ‘Must be having a tea break.’ He turned to the cart and found Riolu asleep. Starting up the cart woke him up, and they proceeded around the circular driveway and out the gates. He turned right and went back the way he came to get back to his regular route for the rounds.
After passing Sweet Apple Arches they found a field, Cipher smirked and looked to Riolu “Just the place to have a picnic lunch for you and tea break for me.”, Riolu gave a happy bark at the idea. He stopped the cart and the two climbed out. Cipher went to the back of the cart and levitated a basket. They then trudged up a small hill “Under that tree will do nicely.” He put the basket down and then sat down himself.
He took the cloth cover off and sorted his way through the assortment of things in the basket, he pulled out a bowl of dog food, then a bone and an apple “Tuck in Riolu.”, the Jakhowl licked his lips and started chopping down his lunch.
Cipher took out a portable kettle, a canteen of water and the box with the tea bags. He untied the string and folded opened the brown paper. He opened the box and stared at a bunch of toy soldiers, armoured ponies with instruments, sitting in it “Oh no!”, Riolu, chewing on the bone, apple and meat already down his gullet, looked up.
Cipher levitated one of the tin figures out “The Major’s toy soldiers, how did they get in there?” he blinked “We must have gotten the labels mixed up. My box of tea is in Kimblewick Hall.”, he put the toy back in his box, and the box and the tea equipment back in the basket. He stood up “Come on Riolu, back to the Major’s, he’ll be think his soldiers have deserted him.” Riolu took the basket and they returned to the cart.
Down at Kimblewick Hall Porter tried to comfort the Major. Dauntless Doo meanwhile walked about the house with a notebook and pencil levitated by his magic. He looked down at the ground and trod carefully.
A horn sounded, they looked towards the gates as Cipher’s cart rolled in. The Changeling Post-stallion climbed down and approached them with an unwrapped parcel in his magic “Anything the matter?” he asked, “What’s going on?”
The Major looked half saddened and half angry “We’ve been robbed. That’s what’s the matter Cipher. My collection of soldier gone! Funny thing though, the crook left a box of tea bags behind.”
Cipher sighed and explained about the mix up.
Upon hearing his latest additions to the collection survived the Major brightened up “Cipher, you a genius! The best of the bunch safe, good fellow.”
Cipher smiled at the praise, he feed on the emotions the Major gave off. But then the mouth felt dry “I’ll just pop in for my tea.”
However, before he could enter Dauntless stopped him “I must ask you for a statement, and you can’t go in there, not until we’ve looked for any hoof-prints.”
“But I want my tea.”
“That tea is evidence now.” He wrote some more notes “No-pony can touch them, not until Captain Sentry and the Princess come and Celestia only knows when that’ll be.”
Cipher sighed and returned to the cart ‘Looks like I’ll have to take Fluttershy offer after all.’, as he left the Major called “Goodbye Cipher and thank you.”
Cipher went back through town and turned onto the road past Carousel Boutique and to Fluttershy’s Cottage. He stopped the cart next to the small bridge. He and Riolu walked to the door “I just hope Discord isn’t visiting today.”
The Spirit of Chaos became a little exuberant in meeting Fluttershy recent. Most likely due to the Council of Friendship going to Bridle City Port to help in the aftermath of the great fire there. And now Discord wanted to make up lost time, since it happened on the day of the pair’s weekly tea sessions. Not to mention Fluttershy would be going to Bridle City Port again, for some reason Princess Celestia decided to be there for the Summer Sun Celebration instead of Canterlot.
He knocked on the day “Just a minute.” The soft muffled voice said. The door opened and Fluttershy’s eyes widened, before she smiled “Oh, Cipher do I have any letter?”
“No actually.”, she smirked “You didn’t mail the tea by mistake?”
“Well, yes and no.”, then explained about the labels and then the robbery at Kimblewick Hall. Riolu didn’t listen, too occupied by his bone.
Fluttershy put the tray with the tea down and sat down with a sad expression “Oh dear, who would want to steal the Major’s toy soldier?”
“Well, the ones I saw in the parcel looked to be high quality hoof-made, and the parcel came from Canterlot, so they must be expensive. Or the robbers want to melt them down for the tin.”
“That’s terrible, I hope the Major’s okay.”
“He was pleased when I gave the new soldiers to him.” He finished his tea “I’ll have to be on my way, I’ve still got a lot of letters to deliver, robbery or no robbery.”
She gave him a sad smiled “Okay, she you soon.”
“Bye.”, the Changeling Post-stallion and the Jakhowl walked out and back to the cart.
Out on the country road they found Scootaloo with a couple of tools and a disassembled scooter. Cipher stopped and looked down at the filly “Having trouble?”
“Hello Cipher, yeah I am. The front wheels of my scooter fell off, the jolt nearly threw me over the handle bar.”
“I’ll ask Doctor Time Turner to come along with his tool kit.” He reached into his saddle bag and pull out a magazine and passed it over with his magic “Here’s something to read while you wait.”, she smiled widely “Great my comic book. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He flicked the reins and trundled off.
Cipher called at Sweet Apple Arches.
Applejack help load some wood onto Time Turner’s Lorry, they stopped when Cipher stopped, Applejack waved “Howdy Cipher.”
“Hello Applejack, a couple of letters from you.”
“Why don’t you come inside and have some apple juice?”
“I am a bit thirst, had a rushed tea break.”
“Busy?” she said as they entered followed by Time Turner. They entered the kitchen where Granny Smith was baking a pie, she turned and smiled “Howdy Cipher.”
“Good afternoon Granny Smith, Applejack offered me some apple juice, where do keep it?”, Granny Smith showed him.
Applejack took a glass of cider “What’s this about there being robbery at Kimblewick Hall?”
Cipher told them the whole story from the beginning again. Then about his impromptu tea with Fluttershy.
Applejack smirked “You seem mighty happy when talking about Fluttershy.”, Granny and Time Turner chuckled. Cipher blushed “We can relate to each other as introverts. Not to mention she was the first of you Council members I meet, and Riolu gets very happy when we see her.” He took a sip of his juice then blinked and turned to the doctor “I almost forgot with this talk about the robbery. Scootaloo’s stuck with her scooter, she’s broken down about a mile back. Do you think you could give her a hoof Doc?”
“No trouble. I’ll pick her up after we’ve loaded the wood.”, Cipher nodded and went to the door “Thanks for the juice, goodbye.”
“See you Cipher.” Applejack called as he shut the door. Back on the cart he resumed his rounds.
He took a right turn at a fork in the road, his next stop, the North-Eastern Windmill and the Millers, Windy and his wife Dotty from the Griffish Isles. As he entered the yard to the chicken farm he met Dauntless Doo coming out. Cipher stopped and looked at the Everfree Guard-pony “Any news of the robbery?”
“Good news and bad news. The robbers were caught on the train to Baltimare. But there’s no sign of the collection of toy soldiers.”, Cipher sighed and nodded “Bye for now.” He flicked the reins and slowly rolled into the yard.
Cipher carried a magazine for Windy Miller. Getting out of the cart Cipher set out to find him.
The sails of the Windmill turned with an odd series of sounds, a ratchet rattle, followed by a couple of clunks and the twang of a spring before the rattle started again and the entire rhythm repeated.
Cipher ventured out passed a wall, he looked about not seeing Windy anywhere.
“Looking for me Cipher?” a voice from behind said. Cipher jumped and turned around. Windy, with his black conical hat over his short blond mane and a red necktie around his neck, stood behind the wall.
Cipher breathed out “You frightened the life out of me Windy,” he then chuckled “I thought the robbers where after me.” He walked up and passed the magazine over “Here’s you Hen Farmer’s Weekly.”
“Thanks Cipher.” He jumped over the wall and told Cipher about his dream last night about being chased by a giant hen which flew away just before he woke up, Cipher chuckled “I think you should see a psychiatrist. Anyway, it’s time I was flying away.” He looked at the empty passanger seat “Where’s that pup got to?”
Windy pointed back the way they came “He might be chasing rabbits down the field, he likes the rabbits in my fields does your Riolu.”, Cipher chuckled “We better not tell Fluttershy.”, of course he only joked, he knew Fluttershy understood the circle of life and the need of some animal to be carnivorous, heck Harry the Bear, one of her favourite animals ate fish.
Anyway, the pair walked into the field and called out for Riolu. Windy scratched his head “He sometimes comes around here, no sign of him though.”, the ventured on.
Cipher went into a hilly area and heard a muffled and echoed bark. Cipher looked around the hill and found Riolu, his leg, rear end and tail stuck out of a rabbit hole. Cipher called Windy over, the miller chuckled “I think he’s got himself stuck.”
Cipher took hold of his animal companion as gently as he could and pulled. He ended pulling with so much force the Jakhowl’s head popped out and the pair tumbled down the hill.
Windy surveyed the hole. Something small but heavy rolled onto the grass. Windy picked it up and examined it.
Cipher brushed himself off “What’s Riolu found?”, Windy showed him the painted figure “Looks like one of those tin soldiers, I used to have a box full of them when I was a colt, could do with a clean.”
Cipher raised an eyebrow with a grin “Did you say a tin soldier?”
“Yes why?”, Cipher walked up to the hole giving Windy a confused look “The robbery, you much have heard. Hang on.” He knelt at the hole and charged his horn, which his magic he pulled out a bag, he looked inside and smiled at what he found “Riolu found the loot. The robbers must have hidden them on their way to the train station. They must have taken the hoof-path through your gate Windy.”
The miller nodded and looked to Riolu “Clever canine.”, Cipher chuckled “I must get this collection back to the Major, he will be pleased.”, he trotted to the van and both he and Riolu clambered aboard. Cipher put the bag at Riolu’s feet “Keep an eye on them will you Riolu?”, the Jakhowl gave a determined bark. Cipher started the cart and they quickly left the Miller’s Farm. Windy gave Cipher a cheerful goodbye, which Cipher politely returned.
As they drove along Cipher spoke “Never mind about the rabbits Riolu, the Major will be so pleased to have his soldiers back, I’m sure he’ll give you something nice. Jakhowl nodded with a grin.
They turned left, passed the schoolhouse, Miss Cheerilee just exited and gave a wave. Riolu waved back. Going through the town again he turned right.
Kimblewick Hall at last. The Major currently gave Porter and Time Turner instructions. The three of them looked as the post cart rolled into the driveway.
Cipher parked next to the Lorry.
The Major turned to the two others “What’s the fellow doing back here again?”
Cipher climbed down and trotted up “Special delivery Major.”, Major Fields narrowed his eyes “What in scruffy bag.”, Porter took the bag with his magic and opened it, then levitated one of the contents. The Major’s eyes widened and he smiled “By Celestia! My soldiers!” he laughed “My precious soldiers! Thank you, Cipher, you’re a first-class fellow.” He chuckled and turned to Porter “First-class fellow, hey Porter.”
Porter gave a smiled chuckled “Very good sir.”
Cipher told the whole story yet again “…but it was Riolu who found them.”
Time Turner nodded “It’s a good place to hide something. Down a rabbit hole, now who would think of looking there?”
“We’d better be off home.” Cipher said. Time Turner took a newspaper from the lower scaffold platform “Take this with you. And make sure you look at page two.”
“Um? Thank Doc, I will.” He returned to the cart confused. He started it up and rolled out of the driveway when and onto the road home.
Riolu took the paper and read it. His eyes widened and he showed Cipher. In the Ponyville Express the Major offered a reward for any-pony who found his soldiers, five-hundred bits.
“Well I never,” Cipher said before he chuckled “That’ll by a lot of bones for you Riolu.”, the Jakhowl gave an overjoyed bark, yip and woof. Cipher chuckled “Let’s stop by at Fluttershy’s and tell her the news.”, Riolu nodded happily.