Chapter 3: Hi-jinx
Rarity was walking on the street, her eyes drifting from one shop to another, trying her best to ignore the gaze of the many fans.
‘’Well I never thought I would say this, but being the center of attention can be a little overwhelming. Oh woe is me, popularity can be such a burden to bear. But I will not let it ruin my day. I just need to find…WAIT!”
Rarity’s train of thought came to a screeching halt, followed almost immediately by her hooves. “What is that?’’
She was looking at a boutique where the showcase was displaying an assortment of jewels, all shining with an array of bright colors. Looking up at the sign, she couldn’t help but read it aloud.
‘’Starry Sky. Come and wear the stars upon yourself. Ooooh that looks like the place just for me.’’
The prim and proper pony quickly entered through the door, being met by the familiar and relaxing sound of a bell. And she apparently wasn’t the only one as she could hear another pony approaching.
‘’Alright, alright, I coming.’’
The one who said that was coming from the back door and from a glance she could see he was a bit taller than her. Said individual was currently entering backwards, holding a crate with his hands. Though now that she had a better look at him she was surprised to find he was actually not a pony.
‘’So, how can I help you today?’’
He turned around, revealing his gray fur, his yellow eyes and his canine face. He was a diamond dog. At his sight, flashes and images came by force into Rarity’s mind, remembering her the time when she was kidnaped by them and were forcing her to find gems. Instinctively, she grabbed a chair with her hooves and handed it as a weapon.
‘’Stay back ruffian!’’
The dog just stayed there with an exasperated face.
‘’Oh wonderful, one of those ponies.’’
As expected, the sudden commotion seemed to alert others, specifically in the back of the store.
‘’Hey, what’s happening back there?’’
From the back store came two other people. The first one, the one who had talked, was a female pegasus with cyan fur, a brown mane and wearing a shop clerk vest. The second was another diamond dog who was twice the height of the first one. The fur on the side of his face made him look like he had sideburns and Rarity could not resist to note that his eyes were exactly the same as the little one. Speaking of him, he nonchalantly pointed his index to Rarity, saying:
‘’Nothing serious Miss. Just a little lady with a little too much prejudice.”
The shop owner, the pegasus, took a single look at Rarity she immediately recognized her.
‘’Oh my, but… but it’s Miss Rarity! Here, in my shop! Oh my, what a pleasure to have you here. Please don’t be concerned about them. These two are just my regular delivery boys. I know they may look scary but there is no reason to be afraid. I had work with them for long so I can assure you, they are very good dogs.’’
The small diamond dog slapped his pawn on his face. “Oh Miss, could you not have used a better expression? That’s also offensive you know.’’
Being now aware of what she had just done, she immediately felt an immense amount of guilt for showing such prejudice just because of his appearance. The very thing that she loathes the most. She quickly dropped the chair and bowed her head as an apology.
‘’I am so dreadfully sorry for my behavior. What I did was so rude of me and I will understand if you could not forgive me.’’
‘’… … Tch. Bah, let’s just forget that.’’
Though his tone seemed to suggest that he was only half-sincere, he was trying his best to appear as cordial as possible.
‘’Well, after that little display, I suppose I should at least give a proper introduction. Here’s my card.’’
Reaching out with one of his rather large paws he handed her a simple white card where she read:
''The brother Dirt and Dust, extraordinary jack-of-all trades.''
‘’That’s right Miss,” The dog said, his prior reserved persona gone. “I am Dirt and the big one is my little brother Dust. We do nearly all kinds of jobs. Delivery, construction, movers, bouncers and so forth. If you ever need a capable set of paws, you know who to call.’’
‘’Hummm thank you, I will think about that,’’ Rarity said somewhat stunned, taking the card, surprised he was willing to drop the issue so quickly.
Dirt went to drop the crate on a corner and turned to talk to the clerk.
‘’All right, that should be the last of it. Sorry to go early but we still have to make a delivery to Mel and you know we can’t make wait our best client.’’
‘’There’s no problem, all the rest will be easy for me alone. You did a good job. And you to Dust. Have a good day.’’
Dirt exited through the door with his brother in tow, but not before slightly waving his flat cap as a salutation gesture. The clerk then came back to talk to Rarity.
‘’They can look rough, but they are no harder workers than them. They arrived here about a year ago I think, and have pretty much been receiving job requests all over town. But oh my gosh, I can’t believe that the great Rarity herself have come in my boutique.’’
The clerk’s sudden shift from professional to fangirl was a little jarring, but now that the initial awkwardness was past Rarity could help but puff somewhat at the praise.
‘’Hohoho, great is a tad of an exaggeration. I’m just a humble fashionista.’’
‘’Oh no no no no, you are simply amazing. You managed to build a small fashion empire by yourself. It beyond inspiring.’’
‘’I don’t think that three shops can really count as an empire.’’
‘’I am almost ashamed to have only modest articles to offer you,’’ The clerk sounded beyond disappointed in herself, looking upon her own wears as though they were mere bobbles.
‘’Nonsense. Everything has beauty. The trick is to simply know how to see it and understand there is always a way to accentuate it. Oh! Oooh! If I may say, your collection is quite sublime. Were these jewels made here?’’ Rarity’s eyes drifted amongst the many jewels displayed along the shelves.
‘’No, the majority were brought outside of town. Actually, we generally import most items into town. In Happy Town, we have eyes for what is great and fun. We tend to stay all our lives in this city, and typically have little desire to leave. Still, we’re always on the lookout for what good things the outside can offer to us. Honestly it’s like having the best of both worlds. Stay in your comfy house and bring the best parts of the outside world to you.’’
‘’I see, I see,” Rarity said while lightly nodding her head in forced agreement.. “I’m not one to judge another’s livestyle but this seems a little… no, no, that would be impolite to say my opinion. So can I try some before buying them?’’
‘’Of course, you can try as much as you like.’’
A huge grin was slowly forming on her lips and Rarity was looking frantically in all directions. There were so many options she paused to massage the temples of her head.
‘’Yes, yes, I can feel the surges of creativity positively pulsing through my head. So many choices, so many possibilities.” Her eyes rapidly darted from jewel to jewel, almost looking like a pinball trapped in a jar before finally coming to a stop. “Ha! Something came to me, something big! I think I will try that and this and then this, oh this will be perfect to accentuate it, of and of course this and this and this.’’
She was taking jewel after jewel in gestures that made it look like she was dancing. When her hooves were full, she levitated her precious bounty and took it with her to the fitting room. After only a minute of rapid quick changing, she opened the curtain to reveal to the clerk herself wearing so many jewels that she had managed to assemble them in a way they accentuated each other that it was practically blinding. No, like literally blinding. The eyes of the clerk went red from the burn with mascara leaking rapidly.
‘’AAAAAAH MY EYES MY EYES, I’M BLIND, I’M BLIND!!!’’
In her panic, she went running out of the store to the street, still shouting her ocular woe. But Rarity understood this the wrong way.
‘’Oh my! She was so impressed by my dazzling beauty that she has lost her sight. Quickly, I need to find a mirror so I can see my result. Ah there it is AAAAAAAAH!!! MY EYES MY EYES, I DID IT AGAIN, I WENT OVERBOARD AGAIN!’’
‘’Wooo, I’m now blind. Neato.’’
The reason Pinkie Pie had said that was a rather long story.
After separating from the others she was left bouncing on the road with her usual squeaky sounds, wondering where she should start when appearing out of nowhere, a pony with a camera appeared and rapidly assaulted her vision with a barrage of flashes. The result was her now rapidly dilating pupils being reduced to nearly the size of the tip of a pencil.
Okay, in the end it was a very short story.
‘’Annnd yay, I can see again. Fiouf. I was worried my eyes wouldn’t work and I’d have to spend years training for blind ponies to bake cupcakes and do party decorations. Oh by the way, who are you?’’
The pony in front of her was a pale yellow with what appeared to be a lab coat that had seen better days and he was wearing a pair of glasses so opaque his eyes were invisible. Yet even with no eyes she could see the pure jubilation on his face.
‘’Me! Oh I am not important but what is important is that you are Pinkie Pie, the scientific wonder that has broken nearly every law of modern science. Since I heard about you, I have always been fascinated by this pink pony who can do so many exploits and biologically defying things that others can’t do. And you are her in front of me. Oh I must study you to finally understand the mysteries hiding in you. You have to come at my lab.’’
‘’Well, that came out of nowhere but sure. I am always eager to help another. And it was asked so nicely. Kinda, at least.’’
‘’Splendid, then let’s go right now, every second counts.’’
The stranger immediately grabbed her by the front hoof and dragged her with him, leaving a deep trail on the dirt. Pinkie didn’t resist and just kept smiling.
‘’Alright mister scientist, I am just behind you. Seriously, with how strong your grip is, I can’t be anywhere else.’’
*Later at the laboratory*
‘’Backer, we’re here. Look who I managed to bring.’’
The pair entered a room full of machinery, gadgetry and chemicals, not. Though Pinkie noted that the way they were displayed was a little sloppy. The scientist was talking to a female earth pony wearing chemist glasses, a brown mane arranged in a ponytail and a lab coat with burn marks. And said pony was currently staring at Pinkie with the same awe as her companion.
‘’I must be hallucinating! Pinkie Pie! The scientific wonder!’’
‘’Uh, you know, I’m not sure what the deal is with the strange nickname but I’m not that special. I’m just a simple party planner. Just a normal pony.’’
Pinkie then felt that her tail was twitching and that can only mean one thing. She quickly took a step backward before a piece of metal piping fell right where she was a second earlier.
‘’Fiouf, this could have given me a big bump on the head.’’
The two ponies that had seen this were aghast with wonder and were running all around her to observe her in every angle.
‘’See, this is exactly what we were talking about. Your innate ability to semi-accurately predict to a degree the future. Your Pinkie Senses.’’
‘’That! It’s just something that I always had.’’
Neither science pony looked convinced. ‘’But not a single pony can boast to have such a unique talent, even the most gifted magic users. What could it be, a gift of super deduction on subconscious level, humm?’’
“Not to mention your ability to manipulate your mane and tail as though they were additional limbs.” The other lab pony with the burned lab coat mentioned, a magnifying glass scanning over Pinkie’s candy colored locks.
‘’Oh, you mean like this.’’
Her hairs immediately sprung to life, wrapping themselves around the piping piece and lifting it up like another arm.
As expected the two other ponies were left floored again. grabbed it like a tentacle.
‘’It’s fascinatingUtterly fascinating, and you have no idea why you can do this?”
‘’I don’t know, I could always do that since as long I can remember.’’
‘’The answer must be in how your body works,” The unnamed pony who’d originally brought her here stated. “We’ll need to conduct a few experiments to determine how it works.”
“Umm, I got a feeling of déja vue. Twilight has already tried to do that without success.’’
But the pair of ponies ignored her and were already turning on machines and pulling out equipment. “For us it will be different. We thought for years on how to understand you. Becker, prepare the mixture while I prep Ms. Pie and install her into the machine”
The still unnamed scientist led Pinkie to a metallic chair and tied her up with a belt. By now the party pony was having second thoughts and then she remarked that the assistant Backer was mixing a bunch of chemicals with her bare hooves.
“Wait! Shouldn’t she be wearing gloves? You don’t use any protection equipment?’’
‘’Ah to hell safety. We are here to find great discoveries that will advance science and above all else to improve the daily lives of society. The joy we feel in pursuing this noble quest is such that we simply don’t care what may happen to us. No time to lose when you create wonders. Here, the mixture is ready.’’
Beaker had brought Pinkie a beaker full of green liquid. Despite her prior concerns Without fear, Pinkie had it and drank all the mixture in one gulp.
‘’Humm, fruity. So mister scientist, what exactly I should do now?’’
‘’Just keep sitting there. This machine will send you an electrical discharge. The mixture will make it easier for us to read the electrical pulse circulating in your brain and nervous system by a process of [a lot more of scientific terms ridiculously complicated that seem to look like what he says is clever but in reality make no sense] and that is how it works. Oh and rest assured yourself, the electrical discharge of this machine is absolutely no lethal.’’
That last statement did little to calm Pinkie’s nerves. ‘’Oh great, hehehe, abs… absolutely no nerve wracking, not at all, haha, should be fun. Wait, did you at least test this machine before?’’
‘’What do you think we’re doing it right now.’’
“WHAT!!!’’
And without another word, the ‘scientist’ he pulled the activation lever.
From outside the house, you could see light flickering on and off through the window, matched with the sound of electrical equipment. The overload of energy ended up growing to such an extent that in a single moment every light within several blocks went dark, though thankfully for everyone involved, that blackout only lasted a few seconds. When the light went back in the lab, Pinkie, who had just received a massive shock, seemed to be perfectly fine.
‘’Ho! That's all! Wow, I thought it would be way worse but it was not that terrible in the end.’’
She turned her head and saw her reflection on a silvery machine. And the thing that jumped through her eyes was her hair. The electricity had made them stand up into long pink spikes, making her as if she was dressing like a punk.
“‘Ohhh, pointy.” Taking another look at herself in the reflection, she pondered deeply. “Interesting. Maybe I should keep that look.’’
‘’Well, ah know ah said that ah was gonna go have fun but Celestia help me if ah figure out what exactly to do here. There are just so many things, it so hard to choose.’’
Applejack was having a conundrum on where to begin. The main streets of Happy Town were indeed, where all the action was taking place. Shops and recreational places of all kinds were the only things to see and it was starting to make AJ head spin a little.
It was only after a moment of mental debate that a male unicorn with a red beret burst from a door and immediately got her attention.
‘’Miss Applejack, pardon me. I couldn’t help but overhear your concerns. My name is Craft Maker by the way. You’re looking for some amusement? Then should I propose that you try my atelier.’’
“Now that is something coming out of nowhere. Uh, howdy there, guess I’m gonna need to get used to you all just popping out like that,“ Applejack muttered again, still getting used to the boundless excitement of the town. “Atelier! What kind of atelier?’’
‘’The one where we build all kinds of monuments that will endure for generations. Where we show all our skills in crafting. Where we assemble part to create ultimate beauty.’’ The strange pony spoke with such conviction and passion it was almost infectious.
‘’Wait. Monuments? Assemble? … Ah! They're craftsponies. Ah see, this must be a sort of club for ponies who like building stuff and are not afraid of a good hard-work. Like masonry and wood crafting. And there’s no better than mah in this domain. Ooooh ya got mahn attention. Ah see we both ponies of the same wood. Ah’m in.’’
‘Oh,’I knew you would agree.” The pony took a few steps back, and pointed his hoof to the building he just exited. “Please follow me, it’s right through this door.”
‘’Ah show them all that Applejack can do wonders with a wood knife and… wait, what in tarnation!!!’’
Taking a few tentative steps forwards, AJ was half expecting to perhaps see a bunch of sculptures or perhaps carpenters, ponies who build all kinds of things with their hooves. So imagine her surprise when she instead saw ponies punting paint on canvas. That was said nicely because in reality, they were throwing paint furiously without even using brushes and instead then using their hooves with a near-maniac glint in their eyes. To AJ eyes, it looked more like a colorful loony house.
“O…kay, that kind of crafting,” She struggled to find the words to continue at the Ood display before her. “ Hum listen, ah’m not sure this is a place for meh.’’
Sadly the pony who led her seemed undaunted by the request. ‘’Not to worry. Everypony can do painting. You don’t even have to be good. All you need is to let flow your creativity like a wild beast devouring flesh and tearing everything on his way.’’
‘’Hum, ah’m sure you could have found a better metaphor but seriously, ah’m more a practical pony than an artistic one. It's just not my style. So ah afraid WAHHH INCOMING!!!’’
With high reflex she grabbed a canvas for protection against a bullet of black paint, making a big splash all across the white surface. And that proved to be the proverbial last straw for her.
‘’By Celestia, this is no atelier, this is a warzone! Okay that’s it, ah’m getting out of BLUUURG!’’
She had received another bullet, this time of white paint, right in the face. It turned out to be the ideal color since it concealed that her orange face was changing to red.
‘’Oh, you want war? Ah’ll give you war! Give me that pot.’’
Her guide immediately complied, leaving her holding this metallic recipient of ivory high for throwing it at the group, but she got distracted. Outside a pony was running frantically on the street and she was shouting things like: ‘’I’M BLIND, I’M BLIND.’’.
‘’… … … Ah don’t know why but something tells me that ah don’t want to know what this was about. BLUUURG *kouf*kouf* Oh not again.’’
In her distraction, she had accidentally dropped the bucket, resulting in all the white paint falling on her, leaving the farmgirl as a unicolor pony. And if it was not enough, she then had received many black splashes all across her body.
It was at this moment that a fragile rope snapped in her head, making her only think about hitting back.
*LATER AFTER CALMING DOWN FROM HER BATTLEFIELD RAGE*
‘’I am sorry everypony for the way ah… turned lunatic. At mah defense, ah was just trying to go at your level. The good news is that by some miracle, ah think ah made a masterpiece purely by accident. Maybe it is a revelation. So tell me, what do you think?’’
Taking a step back she showed to everypony the canvas that held the results of her freak out. And once everypony had taken a glimpse at it, their faces… stiffened. Actually it was more they were scared than anything else.
After a moment of silence, one brave pony currently covered in green paint decided to speak. ‘’Hum… hum… Miss Apple. How can I say this politely? I, hum, I’m afraid to say that picture is a little… disturbing.’’
‘’Heh really! … Hum. Yeah, after taking a look, ah can see what it’s a tad nightmarish.” Applejack looked down at her work of art and scratched her head but in the end, she decided she liked it. “Still, ah don’t think that it means it’s bad? Disturbing and scary could be good art ya know.’’
‘’Oh! Hummm… Look, I feel really bad to say that but… we’re in Happy Town and this kind of art is… oh gosh,’’ the art critic couldn’t help but continue to stumble over his words, trying to be as delicate as possible.
The pony with red beret was visibly embarrassed and was softly scratching the wooden floor with his hoof in a nervous tic.
‘’Don’t feel bad, please, but your accidental panting, well, there’s a risk it might disturb somepony. Or bum them out. And that is the last thing that a citizen of Happy Town would want. I’m sorry to say… but it would be best to not show it in public. Y… you understand?’’
Applejack was silent and then made an awkward smile.
‘’Oh ah understand. Ah understand it is impossible to escape critique that is. No, it’s quite alright, ah mean, ah made purely by accident. Why should ah be upset? Even if ah am. ye know what, ah think this is really not my place and that it will be better if ah go elsewhere, bye,’’
Not wanting to stick around further, AJ headed towards the door, despite the protest of those inside. Once outside, she threw away the canvas into a nearby garbage can. However, despite her claim she was alright, a fuming mood was starting to rise in her.
‘’Those ponies. They want me to share their passion and when ah start to have an interest, they reject it. They say to be casual yet but ah find they were pretty serious at being judgmental. What’s their problem?’’
The anger and bit of sadness bubbling inside her was enough so that a fair amount of ponies were sensing the negativity on her. Many ponies were running away at the sight of that angry earth pony. But it quickly evaporated when she realized how dump she was to be affected by something so dump.
‘’Come on Applejack, let it go, it’s not ye. Why did ah take that so seriously anyway? Still for supposedly jovials ponies, ah didn't expect to be… nah, it’s not good to judge. It’s not because ye find someponies strange that all the rest is.’’
As she continued to muse over her…episode, in her distracted state, she didn't notice the stallion before her, resulting in an immediate collision with him.
‘’Ouch! Oh! Pardon me sir.’’
‘’That's quite alright heeeh! Oh, you must be Miss Bovine! You came earlier than expected! How nice of you.’’
‘’Heh what!?’’
The grown and muscular stallion had a gentle smile and was shaking AJ hoof vigorously.
‘’Glad to meet you for the first time. Me and the boys had heard so much about your singing talents. I must say, for a cow, you are quite small. Oh no no, I’m sorry, I don’t want to imply anything.’’
‘’What, what!?’’
‘’Anyway, me and the boys are so grateful for you to offer your services as a lead cow chorister. With your voice combined all of us, this would be the best anniversary of The Brotherhood of the Barrel Builders will ever have.’’
‘’Okay, now, ah have ‘so’ many questions that ah don’t know where to begin. Ah think ya are confused. Do ah really look like a cow choristerrrrrrr… … oho!’’
In this pandemonium, Applejack completely forgot that she was covered in white paint with black stains on her. In other words, save for her smaller build, she was the spitting image of a cow.
‘’No no no no this is all a big misunderstanding. Ah am not what ah seem! There is an explanation for that.’’
‘’Oh it's alright, you don’t have to come with a poor excuse just because it’s your debut. We’re not a hard audience to please. We will love your performance, we can promise you. Boys, let’s show her that we will give her a warm welcome. I know! Let us bring her to the workshop ourselves.’’
‘’Do you hear the words coming from mah mouth?’’ Applejack practically screamed, yet it seemed every word spoken went in one ear and out the other.
Other muscular stallions came from the sides and they all grabbed Applejack and brought her with them. She was moving her arms frantically and legs, trying to claim again and again without success that they got the wrong person.
‘’No, please listen to me. Anypony could see ah am anatomically all wrong. Ah am really not a cow. A cowgirl at the most…wait, no I mean, dangit listen to me.’’
Sadly her words continued to fall on deaf ears as she was led away, arguing the whole way in.
‘’Oooooh, but what is that? This looks awesome.’’
That’s what Rainbow Dash had proclaimed in front of a big building with flashlights of all colors and a billboard made of neon saying: Dance Club.
‘’Now, that looks like a place made just for me. Flashy, colorful, loud and full of action. Just like yours truly. Alright, time to skyrocket this party to the stratosphere.’’
Always eager to make an entrance with style, she had burst open the door with her front hooves and had shouted:
‘’Guess who’s in the houseOH BOY!!!’’
She did not expect the music would be so loud. It snuffed out any sound that was coming from her mouth and the sound wave was so powerful that it knocked her on her back and shook her mane up something fierce. The music then came to an abrupt stop and all dancers turned their heads to the new visitor. And like with every other pony, the reactions were about what was expected.
‘’I am dreaming! Look, it’s her! It’s Rainbow Dash! The coolest, awesome pony in the world and she’s right here!’’
While normally Rainbow would probably ask a little in the praise she sadly couldn’t as her ears were still ringing from the audio assault she just experienced.
Once she got back her senses, she made her second attempt at entering. The club was rather spacious, with lamps of all the colors of the spectrum, a massive and unavoidable disco ball on the ceiling and a stage with disco dance floor covered in colored panels. Honestly the amount of color was such it put her mane to shame.
‘’Whoa, that’s sick! You guys really go all-out on this.’’
‘’I am glad you like it. I am Funky Step. My pals and I love disco above all else and we formed this little club so us and others could fully express this dancing art.’’
‘’Yeah, I can see that. Say, any chance I can join in?’’ Dash kept eyeing the dance floor, looking a little cocky at the idea of showing off her moves.
‘’Really! Of course, Miss Dash, of course. We must confess that we have always admired your colorfulness and ‘radicality’ as you put it. Nothing will make us happier than to have you share a few steps with us. But tell me, do you know how to dance?’’
At that point, Dash felt her excitement and ego shoot up. “Do I know how to dance?‘’ Heheheh. BWAHAHAHAHAHA. I guess it is time to unleash my secret power. You see, I might be known as the fastest pegasus of all Equestria, but I am also in the shadow an extraordinary dancer.’’
‘’What, it’s true?!!’’ Several ponies stopped dancing and looked at the Rainbow pony in awe.
‘’Oh yeah. Even my friends don’t know that, but I like to practice at home, mostly to come up with new aerial tricks…and show off, but yeah I can bust a move if I have to.”
Again the crowd was in awe, the leader pony looking positively ecstatic at the revelation. ‘’No! Nooo! You’ve. Got. To be. Kidding us. Then please you have to show us, you could not do to us a greater honor.’’
‘’That’s all I wanted to hear.’’
With the green light given, Dash went flying to the stage and when the music went to a start, Rainbow was rising high her right hoof to the sky, proclaiming:
‘’ARE YOU READY FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER?’’
And with a barrage of cheers mixed with the music, she went moving to the rhythm of the energetic tunes. But let me tell you something about her dancing style.
Although it was showing that she knew some rudimentaries, her coordination and rhythm was far from being… top-notch. She was principally relying on big and flashy move sets that, though amazing, was also helping in hiding her less than stellar performance. Having wings also helps in doing elaborate stunts, especially if you know how to use them. But for these hopeless worshippers, her dancing was like coming from the goddesses of disco herself.
‘’Come on everyponies, check all my sick moves.’’
She then did even more amazing stunts like spinning on her head like a spinning top or doing the reverse moonwalk. Naturally the audience ate up every second of it.
‘’And now the big finish.’’
Rainbow went running and then slid on her knees on all the stage when suddenly, all lights went flickering and then shut down completely, leaving everything in a complete blackness and it seems that some ponies heard the noises of a commotion.
By the way, I think we all know what the cause of this blackout was. It didn't last for long and the light and music quickly turned on again. But the dancers saw to their surprise that Rainbow Dash had mysteriously disappeared.
‘’But! ...But where is she!’’
‘’I got it! She must have used the blackout to make a last second exit. Because she must have understood that a mysterious disappearance would have made the greatest finale. Oh such a genius, such a showmare.’’
Behind the stallion who was singing the praise of Dashie, another stallion was transporting a metal cart full of towels. Nopony took notice but something seemed to be moving inside the pile of towels. And from them came out a blue hoof waving frantically and asking for somepony to free her.
‘’*mufle**mufle**mufle**mufle**mufle**mufle**mufle*’’
But unfortunately for her, not a pony had taken notice of her cries for help.
‘’To have been blessed by her presence of…awesomeness and coolness. Even for such a short time. to her. But we have to take an example of her amazing ability and at least come to the closer that we can be of her magnificence. I know! The best way to celebrate a dance is with another dance. So are you ready? LET’S GET DANCING.’’
Rainbow Dash, frustrated at being ignored though she was right under their muzzle, did her waving and muffling with all the energy she could give. A hopeless endeavor against these airhead ponies. The unicorn pushing the cart, used his horn to levitate another huge pile of towels that he had put on the top of the one in the cart, burying for good her hoof, voice, and all chances to escape.
This left Rainbow Dash full of angry thoughts. “Great I come to have fun and get buried under somepony’s dirty laundry. Last time I went dancing in public. Here’s hoping everypony else has it better than me.
‘’It is really nice of you to accompany me. I was feeling so anxious to be on my own in this town that I know nothing about. I wanted to try to be brave but I guess I should have gone with somepony. I hope I haven't indisposed you.’’
‘’Ah of course not Miss Fluttershy, it's instead a great honor to accompany my favorite of the Mane 6. Besides, I have a lot of time in the end since my job was canceled. I think it is at least. I was supposed to be a chorister for The Brotherhood of the Barrel Builders but they never came to the rendezvous point. A little rude if I may say. But this gives the opportunity to meet you so I say I am a winner in the end.’’
The person Fluttershy was talking to was none other than the cow Miss Bovine. A rather amiable person who seems to be the perfect fit with the shy and polite pegasus.
‘’I must say, I haven’t had the occasion to talk with cows which I find to be a shame. Even though my friend Applejack has a lot on her farm. … Strange when you think about it. So you are a moorister? Oh my! Did I really make that bad pun?!’’
‘’It’s alright, I hear it so many times. Yes, I just debuted in the profession and it was supposed to be my first day. What a shame that it was canceled. Especially because of this new job, I had no choice but to give up my position as judge WAIT! ... Wait. I just got a genius idea.’’
Miss Bovine grabbed Fluttershy by the shoulder and brought her closer to her. Fluttershy was beginning to feel nervous. It was too close for comfort.
‘’You see, there’s today a special contest going on today that happens every year. A humorist contest. I have always been a big fan and this year was my chance to be a judge until my first day job came the same day. But now I can still take my position and here is the best part. You should come and be a judge too.’’
‘’Me! But I know absolutely nothing about humor. It’s more the domain of my friend Pinkie.’’
“Oh don’t worry, the trick is to simply not take it seriously. This show is so dumb that it’s funny. There is no greater feeling than to take your brain on holiday and relax. I always laugh so hard that my throat becomes sore. You will love it and everyone will love you too.’’
While Fluttershy had regained some composure, she still looked less than thrilled at the idea. ‘’Hum, I am flattered but it really doesn’t look like my cup of tea. I am afraid I can’t accept.’’
‘’But we're already here.’’
‘’What!’’
She was right. Without noticing it, Fluttershy was brought up during the conversation inside a room with a full cheering crowd.
‘’But... ... but I was sure we were outside just a few seconds ago!’’
‘We were, but you were a little too distracted by me dear. Andway, it’s too late now, so might as well roll with it.” Miss Bovine quickly led Fluttershy over to the judges table near the front of the stage. “Hey everypony, look who I have brought to become judge for the best show ever.’’
Miss Bovine calmly pushed Fluttershy in front of the eyes of all the crowd whose cheer intensified at the sight of this yellow pegasus. Said Pegasus who looked both confused and a bit shocked.
‘’Wait what! I’m suppose to be what?’’
White projector lights went on and went moving in all directions, illuminated a stage. And then, loud speakers took life to broadcast the voice of the announcer.
‘’Are you all ready? Today it is the tenth annual day of our contest: Are you Retarded or What! The show where you go beyond the limit of stupidity, making us die of laughter as we become as dump as them. Let's celebrate our loss of IQ. But first, let me show you our judges for the contest.’’
The projectors turned their lights to show a table where three individuals were sitting. They were wearing jester hats on their heads and on their neck they were wearing baby pacifiers.
‘’At the left, we have the ancient contestant who became the favorite for years and is here now to show his expertise: HILARIOUUUUS TROWUP. At the middle, the biggest fan of the contest who by miracle could have come: MISSSSS BOVINE. And to the right, the one that needs no introduction and who had kindly accepted to judge us! It is really a great honor. Give your applause to FLUUUUUTTERSHY.’’
Fluttershy was frantically looking everywhere, confused, and had no idea how she got her or of what she was hearing.
‘’Hummmm... I humm... I am... I am where exactly?’’
‘’And now, let us bring our first contestant.’’
‘’Look I… I really think I have no place here OH MY GOSH YOU NEED TO HAVE NO SELF-RESPECT TO DO THAT!!!’’
*LATER AFTER... ... THINGS BEYOND COMPREHENSION HAPPEN*
Fluttershy exited the building through the back door, throwing on the way the jester hat and pacifier to the garbage. Her eyes were in a daze and she seemed to have no destination in mind.
‘’… … … I think I just lost many brain cells.’’
Since I don’t want your brains to go to rot, I won’t describe you on just how stupid this show was. Trust me.
Twilight’s escapade compared to the other was rather uneventful. If anything, she actually seemed to be having a good time. She was returning to the Plaza Central with Starlight and was happily licking a caramel ice cream cone floating with her magic.
‘’I tell you Starlight, this town is amazing. The ponies are so nice, there is always a thing to do and the food is delicious. No wonder it’s such a popular tourist spot. I might actually consider coming back at some point.’’
‘Starlight matched Twilight’s smile while taking a lick of her own triple scoop cone. “I gotta agree with you Twilight. Yeah the introduction was a little strong, but otherwise this place is really nice. Everypony accepts me and even admires me, though that part is a little baffling. And everyone has a genuine smile on their face… al… though’’
“Yeah, it’s amazing.” Twilight paused, taking a large bite from her ice. “Now, the only thing missing is getting to check out the town’s library and then my day will truly be perfect. But for whatever reason we haven’t seen one anywhere.”
‘’They must simply have none on the road we were on. If we do a little more searching I’m pretty sure we’ll find it.’’
Though Starlight’s words did offer Twilight some hope, there was something…off about her trusted pupil.
Twilight stopped in her tracks and quickly swallowed her entire cone in a few bites. Once she finished, she turned to look at Starlight with a smiling but emphatic look.
‘’Starlight, is there something wrong? I notice that you were not all there.’’
‘’Oh! … Oh you saw it. I was trying to hide it. It’s really not a big deal, it’s just I kinda feel… nervous,”.Starlight quickly tried to distract herself by swallowing the top two scoops from her ice cream.
‘’Why is that?’’
It took a moment for Starlight’s ice cream and possible brain freeze to settle before she could speak. ‘’I don’t know. It’s… it’s this town. As I said, it is a great place and the ponies are so nice, I really think that. … But… I don’t know. Something in this town makes me feel uncomfortable.’’
That just made Twilight more confused. “I don’t understand, if you think this place is great, why are you uncomfortable?”
‘’That's just it, I don’t understand it myself. But I cannot shake the feeling that… that… urghh I don’t know. I have really no idea if it's serious, if I am just upset over a small detail or if it's just my imagination. That's why I wanted to say nothing. I didn't want to throw a dark cloud on your good day when I have difficulty to take what I feel seriously.’’
‘’Oh Starlight, we're friends and you shouldn't feel obliged to hide your worries for my sake no matter how small you think they are. After all, friends share everything. The good, and the bad.’’
She put her hoof gently on the cheek of Starlight and at this warm contact, Starlight felt all her worries dissipate.
‘’Thank you Twilight. I already feel way better thanks to you.’’
‘’Glad to help. I know! Why don’t you decide where we should go next?’’
Having deviated from the darker subject matter, Starlight pondered on a possible destination. ‘’Well, now that you mention, why don’t we go into this chapel-like building. I’d actually enjoy taking a break and relaxing for a bit.’’
She pointed to the direction of an old but still well preserved building that seemed to give all the indications of a chapel. Its look was simplistic yet beautiful, like it was showing its pride in its humbleness. The bricks were of a perfect white and it’s doors were made of brass, reflecting the light in a welcoming way.
‘’Then to the chapel it is.’’
The duo quickly opened the doors to enter and once inside… they become breathless because for a moment… they thought they went to heaven.
The eight windows were letting the light flow inside in a way that they did not look like rays of light, but like curtains of white silk. But the most striking was the melodious voice singing with great acoustics. It was so beautiful that they did not immediately recognize the owner of this voice.
Much to their surprise as they got closer they found out it was Flo, standing on a podium and singing eyes closed for an audience of ponies sitting on benches. They were in awe before her. But a serene awe. Starlight was pointing an unoccupied bench to Twilight.
‘’Let’s us sit here and let not disturb anypony.’’
And so they did and quietly sat to listen to this wordless intonation. The first time they had heard her singing was nothing compared to this. It was like the angels of heaven had come to take them in their warm embrace, filling them with love and peace. When Flo ended her song, our duo could not stop crying. A testament of how it touched them.
‘’Ah yes. It always has this effect the first time you hear her.’’
Surprised, they turn their heads and see that without knowing, Mayor Paternal had sat with them.
‘’Mister Mayor! We didn’t see you.’’
‘’So, how did you find her? Though I think I don’t need to ask this question.’’
‘’It was… it was… I simply find no word. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. So that’s what Flo does? She is amazing! She has said that her job was special and I can see why.’’
‘’Wellll I don’t think that is what she meant. Her position in our community is… rather unique. You remember when I had said that you were the biggest idols of Happy Town? Well, the truth may be that our true greatest idol might be… our dear Floral.’’
After taking a few breaths, Flo went on singing another wordless song, filling the chapel with her crystalline sounds.
‘’Allow me to tell you two, her story. Only a few days after she was born, her parents sadly died in a landslide.
Both Starlight and Twilight struggled to keep down a gasp as the Mayor looked solemnly upon the still singing Flo.
“They were… *sigh* the kindest and most compassionate ponies our town could have and their loss affected us all. though perhaps the greatest tragedy was they were gone before Flo got the chance to know them.”
The Mayor paused to wipe a tear from his eye, not helped by the continued song of Flo. “Naturally, we did our best to make sure she could have a happy life, but even at a young age we could all see she was special. When she was a filly, she was always smiling, and was kind beyond her years. She had an air of maturity that you do often see in adults and she already had the voice of an angel. And she was always eager to help just like her parents, if not more. When someone feels sad, she always finds the right words to bring them a smile. When we proposed that it should be her profession, she was overjoyed, saying how she could not have understood something so obvious. But you would never guess what? It was then that her cutie mark appeared.”
All eyes drifted to Flo’s flank and spotted the mark, with Twilight and Starlight getting a clear view of it for the first time.
“A sunflower. The flower that always grows upward to the sun. There could not be a more fitting mark for one whose very presence shines like the sun. And that was when she officially became the angel of Happy Town, doing her best to bring smile and happiness.’’
Both Starlight and Twilight were again moved by the tale, Starlight herself looking more amazed.‘’What a beautiful story. That she can do all that at such a young age!’’
‘’Even now, she still amazes us. Often, she goes to sing in this chapel to fill our hearts with peace. But she will soon be finished. Would you like to accompany me? There is something I would like to show you.’’
After the recital, they went to the cemetery at the back of the chapel. Mayor Paternal silently told our two mares to discreetly stay at the entryway and to watch Flo. She was walking in the direction of another young mare who appeared to be the same age as her.
This other mare had fur and a mane with the color of mocha with a twig as a Cutie Mark. She was sitting before a tombstone with a smile that was a mixture of sadness and happiness. Flo went to sit beside her and put her hoof on her shoulder.
‘’Hello Twig Green. Still thinking about your father?’’
‘’Yeah. Most days I feel alright, go about my daily routine and have a good time with my friends. But… sometimes without knowing why… the days feel just empty without him. And then my hooves just seem to guide me here. It just… feels a little better to be here. Afterwards, I can have normal days. Is that weird?’’
‘’No. No, not at all,.” Flo spoke with a smile and a pat on the shoulder. “As long as it doesn't stop you from smiling, I think it is all right to say hello from time to time. What’s important is to remember that you always have the strength to go forward and see all the good things life can offer you. I know you do have this strength.’’
The young mare looked up from the grave and met Flo with conflicted eyes. ‘’You really think so?’’
Flo returned it with a smile that was positively beaming. ‘’I do not think so. I am sure of it. Besides, I am sure that what your father wants the most, is that you can be happy.’’
The unnamed mare looked about ready to cry, but fought back the urge and offered Flo a smile. ‘’Thank you Flo. You always find the right words to make my depression go away.’’
‘’That’s what a friend does.’’
Flo grabbed her with more strength to do a hug and they both burst in laughing. Twilight was rubbing a little tear from her eye with her wing and Starlight was speechless.
‘’You were right. She is unique.’’
The Mayor only nodded, looking upon the scene like a proud parent.‘’Yes. She’s always happy and ready to give advice to those in need. Especially to her friend, Twig Green. She knew she was here and she told me she would go to see her after her recital. You see now why she is so special to us. We all try to find happiness but nopony does that better than Flo. Just looking at her is an inspiration to go further and further.’’
‘’That's enough mister mayor. Why do you always have to sing exaggerate praise about me?’’
Much to the group’s surprise, while they were distracted, Flo had joined them. Being caught eavesdropping left them all looking a bit embarrassed and ashamed, but Flo seemed more amused than bemused.
‘’Oh Flo! Well, hum, I just… I just wanted to show them, hummm…’’
Flo simply rolled her eyes at the mayor’s sad attempt to lie. ‘’And you decided to bring them to spy on me. Why I am not surprised. Please don’t listen to a word he said. I am not the great mare that everypony said, I am just a normal girl.’’
Despite the words from her, Twilight didn’t seem to agree completely. ‘’I have no doubt. But you also seem to be particularly wise for your age. I think I may have to learn a thing or two from you.’’
‘’Please Miss Twilight, not you too. Let’s just change the subject. How have you found our town until now?
Twilight decided to chime in. ‘’I simply love it. This place is so peaceful, I feel more relaxed than I have in years. Now if I can just find a little literature it will be perfect.’’
‘’Humm. I don’t know much about that sort of thing, since I’m not one for books.”
Twilight’s eye immediately began twitching at such a claim.
“But, if you’reI don’t know much about the places concerning that domain but if you are searching for literature, then maybe you should try the blue house. It’s a little boutique in Central Plaza not far from here and I think you will love it.’’
At this mention, for a strange reason, the mayor got a little worried.
‘’Wait Flo! I know why you’re thinking of that place hy you propose it but maybe–
‘’Do not dare finish that sentence.’’
Flo immediately interrupted the mayor and changed her face to one of cold irritation. The mayor was aghast and then felt remorseful, leaving our two heroines to see that there was some history between these two.
‘’I am sorry Flo. You know that wasn’t is was not what I mean.’’
Flo's expression didn’t change, still looking rather cold compared to before. ‘’I wonder.” And then almost immediately her attitude did a complete 180 and she was back to her usual smiling self. “Anyway, back to the topic, you should certainly go, Miss Twilight. But I should probably warn you about the shop clerk.”
‘’What do you mean?”
‘’Nothing serious, it's just there’s a risk you might find him off-putting. He can be a little…eccentric.”
Twilight and Starlight merely brushed off the warning. ‘’Don’t not worry, dealing with eccentric ponies is kinda what we do, especially recently. Though let’s save that for later today, might as well keep the best for last.’’
‘’Glad to hear. I’m sure he would be happy to meet you two.’’