Griffon of Canterlot
Chapter 101.5: Iron Pony with a Skip
Mrs Cake holding the tube of whip-cream in her mouth applied it to the cup cakes she be selling today, with gentle careful precision the whip-cream swirled around in perfection. The counter bell rang out a few times getting her attention that a customer was waiting to buy one of the Cake's delightful goods they sold.
“Coming deary!” She picked up the tray with a hoof placing it on her back, Mrs Cake walking backwards push the doors open and turn around to come face to face with a large pink fox with eight tails, each with a flame hovering over them, four yellow and four blue. “Errrr....”
“Hey there, Skip the name, being friends and making everyone happy is my game! Just visiting Ponyville, heard it a interesting place to visit and mum got to meet six manes and a dragon that live here! So I thought with mum coming back home from the comic con in Manehattern I take a trip and meet these manes and the little dragon for myself! So I wondered around looking at the weird orange and brown colour leaves, they also got this weird smell to them too and as I wondered around town and ponies seem to just scream and run back inside for some odd reason I saw this awesome place and KNEW there be awesome treats! And here I am wanting to order some!”
Mrs Cupcake mouth was open slowly closing up as he rambled on till he finished speaking, waving a forepaw around to fluttering his wings swaying his tails around with excitement to the oblivious point of them being scared on him. She would have been too but now felt relaxed in the presence of this strange looking eight tail pink fox with wings called Skip.
“Skip you said your name was?”
“Yep the name mum stamped on me from the day I was c-”
Mrs Cake quickly spoke. “I understand deary, no need to explain.”
Skip looked at the tray of cupcakes she just brought out. “Ah of course, just never really got out much in the last 299 years, being brought up in a pocket universe where it rains 351 days of the 364 days in the year kinda all you know, the other days are weird as heck when there is no clouds. Now that would blow your mind seeing your island home Nowhere endlessly up and around you which is your island but just that you can see how loopy and cut off from the rest of the reality you really were.”
Skip blabbered on about his home to her in a causal way. “That something I couldn't even imagine living in, no sun and endless rain for almost all year around.”
“Well you make what you had, now we got waaaaaaay more to live for! Everykitsune now get to see the sun daily, get rain every so often, smell that fresh air, get to meet our dragon neighbours and so on.”
Mrs Cupcake smiled. “It good to know your getting to enjoy what we take for granted, so what can I do for you today?”
Skip looked around. “Well I got the munches for sugar, I really love sugary treats, mum and others say it bad for me, but they don't have my level of bounce. I neeeeeed sugar to keep going and I am a bottomless pit too when it comes to eating awesome sweets!” Skip licked his muzzle. “And these are all soooo good, yet taking them all be greedy and make others sad, so no to that you know?”
“Indeed, you have a very good heart and I can see that one pony would enjoy your company definitely.”
“Oooo? Who?” He had a idea who it was, but decided to play as if he didn't know still, curious about this interaction..
“Pinkie Pie, she lives and works here.” Mrs Cupcake said. “Though she not exactly here at the moment, how about a cupcake on the house?” Mrs Cupcake took one off the tray and put it down on the counter in front of him.
Skip knew of her but kept the pretence up used his make to pick it up floating over to him. “That awesome! Thank you ma'am!”
“Mrs Cupcake and your very much welcomed.” Mrs Cupcake said keeping her smile as he took the wrapping off and ate the cake with joy as the wings fluttered. Many ponies curiously watched behind the swinging doors watching the interaction.
Skip licked the whip-cream off his muzzle. “That the best cupcake I ever had! I mean making them out of stuff is good and all but doesn't have the same flare as this!” He present a small diamond placing it on the counter. “Can I have three more to take please?”
“Of course.” She took the diamond and presented him a box with the three cupcakes in it and close the lid up. “Have a wonderful day deary.”
Skip used his magic to levitate it beside him. “I will Mrs Cupcake and thank you for your warm and friendly service, I give you a five out of five!” He grinned and turn around to leave humming to himself happily as the ponies quickly parted watching the large kitsune casually walk out.
“Silly me.” He banged the side of his head. “I forgot to ask why the leaves are a strange mix of orange, red and brown colours, also smell really weird too.” Skip turn to one of the mares, cream with blue and purple curly mane and tail, a cutie mark of three wrapped up sweets. “Hey there pony I just met, could you answer that for me?”
She looked around. “It's just autumn, this happens every year.”
“Really now? So what comes after that?”
“Winter followed on by spring than summer and after that it repeats again, it called seasons.”
Skip looked around. “Cooooool! I wonder if we get these seasons now! I wonder if it will get even colder than it is now! I wonder what winter be like! 299 years old coming 300 and I got to say! I am loving this whole new experience!” He danced around on his paws switching to two spinning around her to stop and present one cupcake from his box. “This for you ma'am, thanks for telling me about it! I got to find-” His eyes locked on to Pinkie Pie. “Oooo Pinkie Pie I seeee you!” He ran off.
“What a strange cre-” Sudden he appeared beside her.
“I forgot to say, thanks again and see ya! Friend!” He gave her a hug and flapping his wings took off with the box.
A mint green unicorn stepped up to the cream one. “That fox didn't look all that scary, Bom-Bom.”
Bom-Bom looked to the cupcake on her hoof. “Not at all and Lyra he a Kitsune, multiple tails.”
“Oooooh, your so smart Bom-Bom!” Lyra giggled.
Bom-Bom watched the kitsune fly off to catch up with Pinkie Pie. “First the Gala and now here, this sure got interesting and got me curious.” She whispered and munched on the cupcake. “Hmm, not bad.”
Pinkie Pie joined Rarity and Fluttershy walking up the dirt path to Sweet Apple Acres. “I hear Applejack and Rainbow Dash going head to head with a Iron Pony Contest.” Rarity said to her friends as they walked.
“They are very athletic and competitive, do you think it could get to their heads?” Fluttershy asked.
Pinkie giggled. “It be fine! It will be fun to watch!”
“I am totally glad to pick today of all days to come!”
“Oh you did, it-it-it!” She bounced around to the source of the voice to see no one there. “Huh? Did you girls hear a stallion speak?”
“I sure did darling, I was certain it was directly behind us.” Rarity curiously looked around.
Angel looked up to see a flying fox, he blinked and rubbed his eyes to see if it was just a trick to the eyes, the kitsune put his paw to the muzzle with a wink, also summoning a cupcake as payment. Angel grinned and nod in turn. “Oh my that is rather strange.”
“What so strange about it?” Skip was directly behind them, but as they turn to see a wooden shaped kitsune.
Rarity frowned at the sight of it. “Where in the name of Celestia did that come from?”
“Hmm...” Fluttershy grinned. “I know where it came from, it Skip he pretending to be a wooden statue.” Fluttershy boop it on the muzzle getting it to wiggle.
The kitsune did a back spin turning back to normal getting a laugh from them. “Thank you for your laughter.” He did a bow to them. “It good to see you lovely mares once again.” He raise Rarity's hoof kissing it than Fluttershy's and Pinkie's getting a mix sort of reactions from them. “So what is this about a Iron Pony Contest?” Skip gave the cupcake to Angel, he greedily ate it.
Pinkie Pie bounced around him. “It a super set of cool obstacle courses, two ponies go head to head in 20 of them to prove who is the Iron Pony!” Pinkie Pie excitingly explained to the pink kitsune as she continue to bounce.
“I would love to watch that! Let's get there double time!” He used the tails magic to form a rift before them, it open up to show the contest grounds, Spike pointing a stick at the hole.
“-them?” Spike blinked. “I didn't expect a magic hole or to see Skip with our friends.”
“Nor did I...” Twilight was surprised as they stepped through to approach her, Spike, Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Skip what bring you back?”
Skip twist his forepaw around. “Oh just wanted to visit Ponyville for real and kinda also getting on the good side the residents thanks to my one on one chit-chat with Mrs Cake. Saw Pinkie Pie the girls, heard about the contest and here we are.” Skip open the box to eat the last cupcake and make the wrapping with the box vanish into a pocket dimension. “Hmmm... So sugary and good!” He licked his muzzle.
Spike raise his stick to the muzzle. “Okay! Let the games-” Skip zaps the stick turning it into a mircophone as Spike continue to speak. “-begin!” Spike's voice carried, he looked at the microphone and than at Skip giving him a wink. “Awesome!” The other mares cheer part from Twilight frowning slightly at Skip, he giving a grin back at her.
“So the first match is weaving in and out of those barrels to the finish line, if you hit one you get a five second penalty.” Skip said reading it out of a sheet of paper. “Seem rather simple.”
Rarity looked over at Skip and the sheet of paper. “You have the list of all the events? Darling.”
Skip let Rarity take it with her magic. “Yep, I asked Sparkle about each event and she gave me that list.”
Pinkie munched on some popcorn. “Tish goish be goossh.”
Skip raise a paw. “May I have some popcorn?”
“Sure!” Pinkie Pie gives him a bag and he start happily eating the salted caramel coated popcorn.
They watched Applejack do her run weaving in and out of the barrels to clip one to get a five second penalty for, Rainbow dash did her run without hitting any for her to win by a whole four seconds to Applejack's time. “Rainbow Dash wins!”
The next came the bell event, Applejack easily smash through it beating a very stunned looking Rainbow Dash. “No surprise there, Applejack does buck trees with precision.” Rarity calmly stated as more ponies started to gather to watch the games, the stands with the other Apple Family including those of Ponyville started to fill them with Skip, Rarity and Pinkie Pie.
Skip with a paw over his eyes watched it continue to sail high into the sky towards Canterlot. “Hmm... Someone in Canterlot is in for a surprise.”
“Oooo why?” Pinkie asked.
“Because the bar bell heading straight for it, from the telemetry it going to hit somewhere around the castle grounds.” Skip answered.
Rarity looked over to the city on the mountain side. “Beg your pardon Mr Skip, but that seem highly unlikely you could figure that out so easily from where it went.”
Skip used his magic to show a white board and Mathematical equations to them. “Because I did the maths.” He made the board vanish with a swish of the tail.
Pinkie Pie put a foreleg around him. “Now that using your head.” She poke it with the other hoof.
Rarity stared at them blankly. “If that the case darling, why are either of you not worried about it landing on a poor pony?”
“Because it won't.” They said together and point a hoof/paw at each other. “Jinx! Double Jinx! Triple Jinx!”
Rarity groans rubbing her hooves on her temples. “Just what we needed... Another like Pinkie...” She muttered to herself.
“In a way she came before me even I am older, so yeah I am just like her.” Skip grinned.
Pinkie nod. “Yep that sooooo true!”
Rarity eyes shift left and right. “Wh-what? How is that even possible?”
“Because it is.” Skip shrugged.
Rarity wave a hoof. “Nevermind, forget I asked! You are just being Skip like Pinkie being Pinkie.” They clapped paw and hoof together laughing in response. “Let's just go back to watching the contest please...” They nod and watch with Rarity as the third game starts.
The Bronco Buck was the next and Skip saw Spike was the one to be bucked off either their backs, his eyes narrowed watching as Applejack manage to get him off her, he groans on top of a haybay that burst to be Rainbow Dash.
Hers was fast and rougher sending Spike flying into the sky, in a instant reaction Skip's four of his tail flames light up and blast Spike with a beam of magic turning him in a instant from dragon to griffon, the purple griffon was able to react in this form to landing on the scoreboard with paws close together and talons either side hooked into it with wings spread out.
Spike realised the transformation saved him from landing rough on it, he looked over to Skip flying over to him with a big smile. “You okay buddy?”
“I'm sure am! Thanks for turning me into a griffon!” He pushed off the scoreboard flapping the wings. “Skip you saved my rump there!”
“Well I'm happy to help a friend! And mum told me about your griffon form so I focused on that element that was still in you.” Skip poke the chest with his paw. “Now let's get you back on the ground and turn you back into your good handsome dragon self shall we?”
Spike gave a thumbs up. “That be great! Being a griffon cool, but nothing beats being my dragon self!”
“Indeed it don't!” Skip agreed.
Spike lands and Skip turn him back into a dragon. “Thanks again Skip!” Spike rush back to Twilight picking up the mircophone on the way.
Angel Bunny put the card on the scoreboard showing Rainbow won on the back of Fluttershy. “That was a very nice thing you did for Spike, Skip.”
Skip did a bow with a forepaw across his chest with the other push forwards. “All in a friendly help of a day dear Fluttershy.” He stood up and flew back to the stands as Twilight finally declare Rainbow Dash the winner after checking if Spike fine, this made Skip feeling happy she showed concern with Spike.
It came to the Lasso Contest, Spike yet again being the one to be lassoed and looked very unimpressed up it as Applejack showed off. Rainbow Dash was stumbling around with hers, it lead to Rainbow Dash lassoing herself in a tree while Applejack lassoed Spike till Skip turned him into a griffon again using the claws and new strength to shred the bindings. “Yer stop that!” Applejack glared at Skip seeing what he did.
“To even the playing field for my good buddy Spike! Never!” He grinned. “Also you lassoed him, all I did was aid the kiddo by letting him get out of the bindings.” Skip answered and with a flick of the tail turn Rainbow Dash into a griffon too so she can use those talons to free herself before he turn them both back to Dragon and Pony.
Rainbow Dash raise a wing to Skip, he clapped it with his own. “Thanks for the help Skip.”
“No problemo!” Skip said back.
Twilight watched how easily he was able to use transformative magic to change others into different creatures. “That was incredible, after the contest would you be alright coming over to tell me about your amazing magic?”
Skip shrugged. “Sure, I can be a bookworm for a while.” Skip turn a rock into a pair of glasses putting them on top of his muzzle wiggling his eye brows, all the ponies and dragon laughed at his silliness including Pinkie Pie snorting a little too as she fell over backwards kicking her hind legs around in the air holding her chest.
Next up was the ball bouncing contest, Applejack almost in a instant stumbled and failed while Rainbow Dash easily took the ones Apple dropped and easily bounced them on her hooves and head. “Impressive control.”
The Hay Bay Toss came and Applejack squished the contest on that one giving Skip, Pinkie and Rarity a greige with them saying “Ooooooo.”
Hoof Wrestling came next and at first it showed they seem to be even to Rainbow Dash smugly wins. “Awesome Dashy!” Pinkie cheered.
Kick ball came up and Skip was reading a comic book, Rarity frowned seeing him ignoring this next round. “Darling are you not going to see who will kick the furthest?”
He flipped a page over with a paw tip. “No need, Applejack got the stronger kick.”
Rarity looked over to Applejack and Rainbow Dash as they about to kick it. “Hmm... You have a very valid point there Skip.” And Applejack won the round, the score now tied four a piece.
The 11th match up was Push-Ups, the two mares were still neck and neck at five a piece, ponies cheer as the two mares push themselves to win staying equal as it the count past 90. “They really got a lot of stamina, I have no idea which one of them going to win this.” Skip said with excitement.
“I know!” Pinkie agreed. “I want both of them to win!”
“It look like a tie at the rate they struggling to keep going.” Skip noticing they was barely able to hit 98 pushing into 99 as the strain was showing.
Twilight counts the next push up, “99!”
Applejack almost has it at 100 but collaspes, Rainbow Dash started to flap her wings and lift her front hooves off the ground and Twilight was about to count it. “VROOOOM!” All the ponies covered their ears as Skip let off a air horn holding it with his magic giving a very dark look at Rainbow Dash.
He point to Rainbow Dash with a paw. “For using her wings and hooves lift off the ground that is a fail and she loses!” He said firmly.
Rainbow Dash was totally surprised by his response, so was Twilight. “What!? You can't do that!”
“I can and I will! I am Beta of the No-Yantic Clan! I might be childish vulpine that drives my mum nuts at time and love to bring smiles to those around me. But when it comes to competitions I know when a line has been crossed and you Miss Dash have!” He walked up to her.
“And how exactly did I cross this line!?” She stormed up to him and jabbed a hoof at his chest.
Skip point to her sides. “What are those?”
“Wings you stupid fox!”
“And Applejack!?” He point to Applejack as she got up on all four hooves.
“She don't have any-” Rainbow Dash suddenly realised what he just pointed out. “Oh...”
“Yes oh.” Skip turn to Twilight. “I am sorry for stepping over you like that, but it had to be said because you were about to call Rainbow Dash the win for cheating.”
Twilight rubbed the back of her. “I guess we were all caught up in the moment, your right about Rainbow Dash using her wings, it gave her a advantage over Applejack. We didn't think about the laying down some limits in this.” Twilight turn to Applejack. “You won this round Applejack, I have to disqualify Rainbow Dash for using her wings.”
Applejack dusted herself off. “How about we call it a tie, thanks to here Skip Rainbow realise what she did wrong, lesson learned.”
“AJ...” Rainbow shift her front hoof in the dirt seeing Applejack cutting her some slack for the mistake she did.
“Just don't let it happen again, alright sugarcube?”
“Got it!” Rainbow smiled. “Back to the contest?”
“Eeyup!” They clapped hooves together.
Twilight raise her hoof. “It been decided, this round is a tie!
Pinkie Pie looked over a few sheets of paper. “Wow this is worthless now.” She tossed the sheets behind her. “Hey Skip that was a really good thing you did there, and even there was frowns they were turn to smiles again, how did you do that?”
Skip poke her on the muzzle. “That my pink pony friend is something I learned from past mistakes I made myself. Now let's watch the contest shall we?”
“Yeparooan!” Pinkie giggled.
The contest continues and Rainbow Dash being mindful of her wings lead to the final game with 9 games won to Rainbow Dash, nine to Applejack. Twilight stood at the side of the mud pond. “Alright you two this is the final event, give it all you got!” Spike stood on top of her head with a flag in claw hand and waves it.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash start pulling on the rope with their mouths, Rainbow Dash start to slip. “It look like the workhorse going to win this!” Spike commented, Rainbow reacted with flapping her wings but realised what she did, letting go the rope she closed her wings up to slam into the mud knowing that it was already over. “Rainbow Dash loses it and Applejack wins!” Spike declares.
Rainbow Dash sitting in the mud look over to Applejack standing at the edge. “Yeah yeah I know, I used my wings, you try not doing something that part of ya.”
“Ah know that feelin' all too well when it comes to buckin' a tree, it get so sow into that head of yer's that ya do it so naturally.” Applejack lower her hoof to Rainbow.
Rainbow Dash took it and pulled out of the mud. “Your not exactly gloating over beating me AJ. I felt if I was suppose to win by a landslide or in this case a... mud... slide?” Rainbow Dash said slowly at the end. “That sound so cheesy... Gald G not here to hear that lame remark.” She muttered.
Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. “Ah got that weird feelin' too. Ah don't know. Just don't feel enough, it as if we missin' somethin' here, yer know?”
“Yeah it odd...” The ponies around them were cheering that Applejack won, but also cheering that Rainbow Dash did awesomely well too.
“That was a great contest! You won Applejack!” Spike beamed.
Applejack shrugged. “Ah guess.”
“You don't seem overly thrilled over it.” Twilight said with wonder.
Rainbow Dash respond to Twilight. “We both feel really odd over it, if Skip didn't interfere like he did, I most likely won those last ten games using my wings, so we kinda a bit bummed out over it.”
Applejack nod. “Took the words right out of mah mouth sugarcube, so even ah won, it doesn't sit right.”
Twilight rub the underside of her muzzle thinking about it. “You have a solid point, it does feel odd.” Twilight looked over to Skip talking with Fluttershy at the scoreboard. “Still I would like to get to know him a little more and his culture.”
“Trust you to go all egghead Twilight.” Rainbow rolled her eyes.
Pinkie Pie popped in. “What about the Running of the Leaves? It a race and you two can figure out who Iron Pony through that for sure, if you don't think this contest was enough!”
They looked at each other. “That sound like a pretty swell idea!” Rainbow grinned. “And you can bind my wings up so I can't fly.”
“Exactly what ah was thinkin' off! Let's do it!” Applejack spat on her hoof and so did Rainbow, they clapped hooves in agreement laughing a little.
Spike sitting on Twilight's back. “That in two days, you could use some of that time with Skip, and we could give him the guest room for a few days!”
“Ooooo good idea Spike! A kitsune as our guest! I can learn about Running of the Leaves, read about running it and even-” Spike shook his head as he zoned off as Twilight start to ramble on about what she could do with his help.
Skip standing at the scoreboard with Fluttershy watched as ponies cheered for both of them even Applejack did win. “Skip you really helped in a big way.”
“Indeedy I did.” He push down some shades over his eyes getting a giggle from Fluttershy.
“Are you coming to the Running of the Leaves?” Fluttershy asked.
Skip did a rapid bouncing steps on the spot with all four paws. “Sure! I can get into the action too! Have a good run get that blood flowing and get to see more of this autumn! Share history and about each other between me and Twily and get to chill out with the little dude Spike!”
Fluttershy smiled. “And you could come over for a cup of tea, if you like.” She shyly said at the end.
“Sure thing Fluttershy, I sure can stop by for some tea, how about five tomorrow evening sounds at your place?”
“Hmmm mmmm.” Fluttershy slyly responded.
“Grand!” Skip turn around holding a remote control with a paw, the other over the button.
“Now we had fun it back to Prince Gale in Canterlot, you will see me again at Running of the Leaves! Todals!”
And the paw comes down on the button.