Twilight came out on the other side of the portal. She looked at her new hands to indicate that she was now in her human form. With her ribbon coated button down shirt and her nicely purple blouse, she took a small sigh.
“All right girl,” she said. “You did this before, you can do it again.”
After adjusting to two legs and practicing walking around, with the assistance of a wedge in the wall, she took a moment to notice the shack that she had found herself in. The walls were coated with a few drawings and quilts made by Cory and his friends. Some were crude, others were masterful, a few were colorful, and a couple were hung from the ceiling like mobile objects from a museum. She looked below to notice a round carpet that nearly filled the floor, coated with the names of Cory's friends. On one wall was a shelf that had a few knick knacks from birthdays and seasons past. The whole place looked like a cavern of memories and forget-me-nots, which caused a small tear to roll down Twilight's cheek.
"Alright." She said to herself as she wiped her eyes and propped herself up. "You just need to get some information. Go to a nearby library, and figure out where his parents are. Ask them why they abandoned him, and hopefully things will turn out for the better. But first, you need to get to a library. Remember, you are doing this for Cory.
Then Twilight grabbed her satchel and headed out the door, but not before taking a rope out of the satchel's pocket and throwing it into the portal, just in case it might close while she was gone. Once outside, she reached an open road in the middle of an empty field. to her left she saw a rest stop with a word that read "Bus Station." Figuring this was a mode of transportation for these creatures, she walked towards it and sat down. Moments later, a rather large, wheeled vehicle called a bus pulled over, with doors that opened to the side. With a curious ease, she stepped in and looked inside. The operator made a sharp cough and tapped on a box where bits were to be placed. She took out one from her satchel and placed it in the slot.
"Where to miss?" The driver asked.
"Ummm," She thought. "The library sir."
The driver nodded back, closed the doors and drove off in that direction. As the bus breezed into town, it swung past a humanized version of Sugarcube corner. It was then Twilight looked out her window to notice that her five friends from this world were sitting outside, underneath an umbrella, sharing a sweet drink and a few laughs. Twilight wanted so badly to step off the bus and say hello to them. But she knew that there was amore important task at hand. 'Maybe some other time' she thought to herself.
Before she knew it, the bus went to a complete stop and opened its doors to reveal a building that read "Canterlot County Public Library" up above in huge font. Twilight stepped off the bus, thanked the driver and headed inside. The interior was standard for a library of its size. Stacked with shelves of books and papers of all kind, it was typical and adequate for hub of knowledge and information. As Twilight skimmed down each aisle and hallway, she came across a section that read "Historical Records." She knew that this was the place. With her skills in book keeping and paper sorting, she ran her finger around the section, searching for just the right article: " Standard History of Canterlot" nope, "Past mayors and Electorals from years past" na eh, "Contests" "Bridges" "Buildings" "Businesses" no where to be found. Then, she finally came across a special package of articles at the very end of the shelf: "Condemned Organizations and Institutions."
Twilight grabbed a ladder from nearby and carefully grabbed the package to read. As she skimmed through the old pamphlets and leaflets, she saw at the very end a folder that read "St. Thomas Home for Young Boys." Inside were the photos names of many young children who had no where to call their home, including such a name as "CORY AGEES." Each one had either a bruise on their cheek, an unkempt haircut, or a tooth missing from their mouth Along with these names were pictures of a rundown orphanage, with poor living conditions, unsanitary food, and medical service that was nothing more than inadequate.
"What kind of people would send a child to such a place?" Twilight asked herself.
At that moment, small newspaper article fell out of the edge of the folder. It read: 'St. Thomas condemned and shut down; children relocated as owners arrested for negligence.'
"Well, that's a relief." She said.
It was then she noticed there was one missing child in their records. The child's image was printed on a large pamphlet with some information on the back. She already knew who this child was as she checked for his height, age, hair and eye color. At the bottom, she saw what she was looking for. It read: PARENTS: BLUEBLOOD and SURI POLOMARE AGEES. With the carefullest of ease, she took out the picture with her mouth and walked over to the librarian.
"excuph meh mamph." Said Twilight with the paper in her mouth, to which the librarian gave a confused look. Twilight, realizing she was in a different world, spit the paper out into her hand.
"Could you help me in finding out about these two people?" She continued to ask as she pointed her finger on the couple's name.
"Can't you just use one of our computers?' The librarian asked.
"The town I come from isn't too familiar with those things." Twilight replied.
"sigh Alright. Let me see what I can do."
The librarian typed the names Suri and Blueblood into the computer system, to which it displayed several articles that read: 'Meanest couple in the U.S.' and 'Suri and Blueblood; Least Liked Company' and 'Reports of Work Abuse at Agees Household.'
"Gee," Twilight commented. "I never realized how notorious they were around here."
"Yeah, they are a pretty nasty couple." Said the librarian. "Given the name of Miami, Florida a bad rap lately."
"Miami, Florida. How do I get there?"
"Well you head to the airport for any upcoming flights."
"You mean like a hot air balloon flight, a zeppelin flight, or a pegasus chariot flight?"
"Um...Pegasus chariot flight?"
"Never mind, thanks."
With that, Twilight grabbed the folder nearby, stuffed it in her satchel and headed outside. She hopped on the next bus and requested to head toward Canterlot County Airport. Upon arrival, Twilight rushed inside and gaped at the scope of this strange place. It looked like one of those Daring Do conventions Rainbow Dash had talked about.
"Attention." Said a voice on an intercom. "Flight DJPON3 to Miami will be boarding at gate 30."
Twilight sped down a hallway and approached a ticked booth. She reached into her satchel, scooped out a handful of bits and dropped them onto the countertop.
"Will this cover for a Miami flight?" Twilight asked, to which the booth lady nodded back and gave her a ticket.
Twilight then rushed towards the gate, through the security clearance, onto the boarding dock, and into another peculiar vehicle called an airplane. Once inside she noticed how the interior looked like the stomach of a whale with rows of seats on each side. As she sat down, the plane started to take off. She clung tightly to her seat against the rumbling sounds of the engine outside. She felt like being shaken by a large bear during one of its long naps.
"First time on a plane?" Asked a familiar voice next to her.
"Ha, ha." Twilight laughed nervously. "Yes."
"Don't worry. I've heard they're the safest way to travel." She assured her.
"Well, if you're not counting trains, carts, and bikes."
The two of them giggled for awhile and looked at each other with the friendliest of faces.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle." Twilight introduced herself as she extended her hand.
"I'm Coco Pommell." The other girl replied, to which the two of them gave each other a firm handshake.
It was then Coco took out a pencil and drawing pad and opened it to reveal dozens of sketches for some unknown fashion catalogue.
"So," Coco said as she started doodling. "Are you heading to Miami for a fun vacation?"
"Not really." Twilight replied. "I'm actually heading over to see a couple."
"Who?"
"Oh, Suri and Blueblood Agees."
Pommell's pencil snapped at the sound of their names.
"Oh dear," Said a worried Coco. "I hope you're not looking to be employed by them."
"Oh, goodness no." Twilight replied. "I'm heading over to ask about their son and whether they want him back."
"They had a son? But I thought they hated children."
"Not according this folder I found in the library."
Twilight reached into her satchel and took out a photo of young Cory. Coco took a moment to look at the the picture with deepest sympathy.
"Oh, poor little guy." A sad Coco commented. "I hope he's alright."
"Don't worry." Said Twilight. "He's been living with me and Applejack for the past several months."
"Well, that's good to know."
"So, how exactly do you know Blueblood and Suri."
"Well," Coco explained. "I had the misfortune of working for them. It was a very harrowing experience. All my life I wanted to open my own clothing store but didn't have the money to buy any retail. Being the desperate girl I was, I took a job opening at one of those fancy, first rate mansions as a maid. Unfortunately, the only opening available at the time was at the Agees mansion. Oh, how I was forced to do such degrading things."
"Like what."
"Well, besides doing most of the house and yard work, I was forced to pose for one of their erotic pictures almost 3 times a week. I also had to watch them in one of their sex acts each day while serving them drinks. I even had to partake in several unprotected S&M orgies. Everyday when I go into the shower, I can still see the remaining markings as a reminder of my time there. But I was so determined to get the money for my store, I would do just about anything, even if it meant sacrificing my dignity. Then one day, I heard news about a certain girl at a high school who was able to turn it around and unite the entire students and faculty together. And it wasn't because she forced them to bow down to her, but because she inspired others to stand up with her. I became inspired by that news, so I quit. Finally, with the right kind of connections and willpower, I managed to rent a small space in the city and open my own clothing store in the end. I suppose it was a happy ending for me after all."
Knowing who and what Coco was talking about, Twilights cheeks blushed in pride. So for the next few hours they chatted and conversed about their hobbies and likes until the plane landed on the Miami airstrip.
"Say, if you're wondering how to get to their mansion, I can hail a taxi and we can go together." Coco offered as the two of them de-boarded the plane.
"That sounds wonderful." Twilight replied. "I am running low on bits anyway."
After a few moments of checking for their belongings, the two of them quickly stepped out of the airport called a cab and before they knew it, went off to their destination.