//------------------------------// // Time to Go // Story: Splash of Cold Water // by Winter_Solstice //------------------------------// My last encounter with Officer "Friendly" made up my mind for me: I'd overstayed my welcome. Once my shift was over, I approached my Boss. "Chef, I need to talk to you." He looked up from his desk and regarded me. Like most chefs I'd heard of on Earth, he was a no-nonsense individual who took his work very seriously. I'd seen him chew out his line cooks and some of the waiters on a daily basis, and fortunately, I'd mostly stayed below his radar. But now I was drawing attention to myself, and I wasn't sure how he'd react. But I had no choice. "What is it?" I shifted my hooves before answering. "Something's come up...I need to leave town. Could...could I get paid now?" He looked back down at his desk and resumed writing. "Paydays are Fridays. No exceptions." I sighed. "I...I have to leave town tonight. It's urgent." He didn't look up as he said, "Mare troubles?" I shrugged though he couldn't see the gesture. "Something like that." He reached into a drawer of his desk, grabbed a hooffull of bits, and put them on the desk. He looked up and said, "Here's a loan. I'll take it out of your final pay." He slid them over to me. "Best I can do." I took them up in my magic. "Thank you." He waved me off and went back to writing. I started to say something like 'I'd enjoyed working here,' but thought better of it, turned and left. It wasn't much, but the bits were better than none. I soon found myself back at my room. My roommate wasn't there, so I didn't have the chance to say goodbye. Not that he'd mind, I suspected. I gathered my things, which weren't many, and made my way to the front desk. "I'm leaving now. Thanks for all your help." The mare behind the desk smiled up at me. "Take care." I nodded and left, then made my way to the train station. I stood there for a bit, looking over the schedules, trying to find the train going to Canterlot. That's where I'd heard they film the show, or so I'd hoped. When the train arrived, I got on and took a seat. I stared out the window for a while, then looked around the train car. Then I froze. The door to the next car opened, and two ponies walked in. It was Twilight and Applejack! I couldn't believe it! Twilight didn't have her wings, and "Applejack" was wearing her trademark hat, though her cutie mark wasn't three apples, but a classical steel shield, decorated with a black crown and a pair of silvery insect wings studded with holes. They chatted with each other as they trotted, no doubt making their way back to their car. I tried not to be too conspicuous as I stared at them, but I couldn't help it. "Twilight" saw me staring and stopped. "Can I help you?" I started breathing heavily as I tried to find my voice. "I...I...like your show?" The one I only knew as Applejack snorted. "One a those. I suppose you want our autographs?" I shakily nodded. "That would be nice," I finally managed to say. Applejack reached back into one of her saddlebags, took out a picture and a pen, scribbled something on it and started to hoof it over to me. "Ten bits." I couldn't keep the shock from my face. "You're....charging me?" She smirked. "A course! These pics ain't cheap!" Something died inside me as I handed the bits over and took the picture. "Th...thanks." I looked down at the picture. She'd written, "From Deep Cover, to our biggest fan. Keep watching!" “Did you want my autograph?” asked “Twilight.” I thought about it for a moment, decided I couldn’t feel any worse, and replied, “Sure,” as I fished out more bits. “That’s okay! I don’t mind giving you one for free,” she said with a smile. The other pony, “Deep Cover,” as it turned out, gave the younger mare a dirty look, but “Twilight” scribbled something on her portrait and hoofed it over to me. I read it briefly, smiled myself and clutched it to my chest. “Thanks alot.” As they both turned to go, I blurted out, “Wait! Where do you film the show?” They both turned back, “Twilight,” or “Star Power” as she’d written, with a smile, and Deep Cover with a frown, and Star Power said, “At Ponymont Studios in Canterlot. Would you like to see the set?” As this, Deep Cover cleared her throat and pulled the other pony aside. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but I saw Star Power’s face go red. Then she said, loud enough for me to hear, ”If I want to invite somepony that’s my business!” Deep Cover stared at her, then without another word she turned away and began to trot back to her car. Star Power gave me a sheepish grin and said, “Sorry about that. She can be overprotective, sometimes.” “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble between you two.” She smiled again and said, “That’s not your fault. When would you like to visit?” My face brightened as I answered, “Any time would be good for me. I have to get settled in Canterlot first, then I could come around.” “Where are you staying?” Now it was my face’s turn to go red as I said, “I’m not sure yet. This will be my first time there.” She nodded. “Okay. Why don’t we make it this Friday? That’s only two days away, plenty of time for you to get settled.” I smiled as I said, “Sounds good!” As she in turn smiled and turned to go, I could feel my hoof starting to tingle again! I whipped it behind my back, but not fast enough. She startled as she must have caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. “What’s wrong with your hoof?” I poured some magic from my horn over my hoof and said, “Oh, nothing. It just felt like it was falling asleep.” I took it from behind my back and showed her. “It’s all better now.” She looked from my hoof to my eyes and said, “It looked funny for a second there. Almost not like a hoof at all.” She turned fully to face me and said, “Where are you from?” I hoped the sweat wasn’t showing on my face yet as I replied, “No place you’ve ever heard of, I’m sure.” “Try me.” I said the first name I could think of. “Augusta, Maine.” She looked skeptical as she shifted from one hoof to the other. “That is a strange name. Is it far?” “Farther than you can imagine.” She laughed. “You’re silly. What’s your name?” “Scholar.” She smiled, “Okay, Scholar from Mane, I’ll see you on Friday, ten o’clock sharp, Studio B. Don’t be late!” I smiled, and said, “I won’t. Thanks again.” She waved a hoof and left. Once she was gone I sat back and let out a big breath, then looked down at my hoof. It looked solid once more, but I was going to have to figure out what was happening to me before too long. I’d already seen what could happen if a pony got a good look at me if it happened to change again. Not an experience I wanted to repeat.