//------------------------------// // Like a needle in a haystack // Story: The Rats, The Cats and The Callahan // by Trigger_Finger //------------------------------// Callahan grunted to himself and started to feel sick himself, ‘probably this damn infection’ Callahan thought as he raced along the dirt road that was supposed to lead to Ponyville. The car had a rigid suspension and wasn’t meant to be driven on this sort of road but that didn’t stop Callahan from exceeding 100mph. The car flew over a small hill in the road and Callahan felt as if there were butterflies in his stomach. He grunted as the car bounced along the trail and he looked at his face in the rear view mirror “god ain’t you a handsome devil” Callahan laughed at the sight of his scratched up face. He had filled up his car before he left, coincidently despite not having motorized vehicles Canterlot still used gasoline for random things, ‘lucky break’ Callahan thought to himself as he looked to the gas meter, it read that he still had half a tank of gas. “Guess I’ll have to fill up in town” Callahan muttered as he pressed the accelerator to the floor, the car roared and the supercharger let out a high pitched whine as the car thundered over the hills and towards Ponyville. As he raced along the dirt road he saw the town come into view and he slowed his car down to a more suitable 60mph and approached the town, as he entered the town he realized it was the same deal as Canterlot, now vehicles just carriages. He slowed his car down and drove into the town’s center where there was, what he presumed to be, the town hall. He drove up and parked his car in front of town hall and turned his car off. As he got out several ponies looked to him with curious looks. Callahan trotted up the stairs and into town hall. A receptionist stopped him in the lobby. “Excuse me sir… may I be of assistance?” she asked curiously and Callahan walked over “yeah I’m looking for some-pony who can help me find…” Callahan trailed off and pulled out a picture of Fluttershy that Celestia had given to him as a reference “this pony” he finished and the pony looked at the picture and handed it back to him “sorry, I’m new here, you might want to ask the mayor though” the receptionist suggested. “And where might she be?” Callahan asked as he took the picture back and placed it in his pocket. The receptionist pointed towards a stairway that he presumed led to the mayor’s office, Callahan nodded and began to trot along. He paced up the stairs and looked down the hallway, “hmm mayor’s office…” Callahan trailed off and looked to all the doors and finally found one that said mayor’s office. He opened the door and peeked inside and the mayor looked up and gasped “sweet Celestia doesn’t any-pony knock anymore” she gasped. “Oh sorry” Callahan muttered and closed the door and knocked. “You fool I already know you’re here” the mayor scoffed and Callahan came back inside the mayor’s office. “Okay… so how may I help you Mr.” she began but trailed off as she realized that his face was pretty scratched up “sweet Celestia what happened to your face?” she asked and Callahan scrunched his nose “cats” he muttered and took a seat. “Well I’m no doctor but I can tell you that your cuts need to be disinfected” she informed him and Callahan nodded, he had felt a bit under the weather but it wasn’t too serious, just a small fever. “I’ll be fine” Callahan said and shrugged off her worry, “an infection on your face is very dangerous because of the close proximity to the brain” she informed him and Callahan rolled his eyes. He pulled the picture of Fluttershy out of his pocket and showed it to the mayor “I need her help… think you can help me out?” Callahan asked and the mayor took the picture and examined it thoroughly. “Ah yes, Ms. Fluttershy, she lives in a cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville” the mayor replied. “I’d bring you myself but I have work to do, but I’m sure the librarian Twilight Sparkle would be delighted to help you out” the mayor replied and Callahan got up “thank you mayor… I need to be going” Callahan replied but as he left the mayor called out “you should really consider going to a doctor about your face”. Callahan chuckled at the suggestion, it kind of sounded like he needed facial surgery the way she said it. Callahan trotted back down to the lobby and out to his car where a Cyan Pegasus with multicolored hair was looking at his car. “It’s not for sale” Callahan grumbled and the Pegasus turned to him and laughed “ha, you mean this piece of junk” she laughed and Callahan grumbled to himself as he walked towards his car. “Ha yeah I bet your car wouldn’t even make it across town in a day” she laughed and Callahan let out a silent snarl, this mare was pushing it. “Ha, yeah well under the hood is a 460 big block with a supercharger, thing goes at least 170” Callahan replied and the Pegasus laughed “yeah what like 170 inches a day” she taunted playfully and Callahan opened the door on his car and sat in the driver seat and slammed the door. Callahan looked to her “yeah, well some of us weren’t gifted with wings and this is the next best thing” Callahan said as he got in the car. The mare let out a hysterical laugh and fell to the ground, rolling in laughter “ha a Ford, oh please give me a break… you know what Ford stands for right? Fix or Repair daily” the mare laughed and Callahan grunted “well in all my years of driving this thing I’ve never had to fix it, and she still runs like a charm” Callahan argued back and turned to start the car, he looked back but the Pegasus was gone. “About time” he muttered to himself but suddenly the passenger door opened up and the Pegasus hoped in the passenger seat “you should’ve bought a Chevy” she laughed and Callahan snickered “yeah, can hear every valve rattle over long extended trips” Callahan replied making fun of Chevrolet’s name in a similar way to what the mare had done. “Ha, I bet this hunk of crap doesn’t even start” she taunted and Callahan started the car, it rumbled to life and the mare laughed. Callahan looked over to her and smiled slyly. The mare laughed “fine, but let’s see if it goes anywhere… oh and by the way I’m Rainbow Dash” she said as she introduced herself. “Callahan” Callahan replied and put the car in reverse and backed up the car and straightened out the car on the street. “Where’s the library?” he asked and Rainbow Dash laughed “ha, need a manual on how to fix your Ford she laughed and pointed over to a tree that was made into a house “that’s the library” she informed him. Callahan looked at the street in front of him, it was relatively clear, save a few ponies on the sidewalk. Callahan slipped the car into first gear and slammed on the accelerator, the car’s front end lifted off the ground like it always had when he did that. Callahan raced the Torino down the street in first gear, keeping the car’s front end off the ground. He slipped it into second gear and the car’s front wheels touched the ground and Callahan slowed the car as they reached the library and looked over to Rainbow Dash with a smug look on his face “let’s see your Chevy do that” Callahan retorted and Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Actually, I don’t mind Ford it’s just that I saw you drive into town and wanted to take a joy ride in the car but knew you probably wouldn’t let some stranger into the car… that and I need to get to the library and didn’t feel like flying” Rainbow Dash replied and hoped out of the care. “Lazy bastard” Callahan muttered and Rainbow Dash looked to him and chuckled “hey I might strike you as lazy but I’m smart, look I got both things that I wanted” she told him and Callahan thought to himself, she was right, she had gotten him to let her take a joy ride and got to the library without using much energy. Callahan turned his car off and followed Rainbow Dash into the library. “Hey Twi… Twilight...” Rainbow Dash trailed off as a lavender colour unicorn approached. “Oh hey Rainbow Dash, I didn’t know you were stopping by today” she replied and Rainbow Dash shrugged “yeah but I weaseled some fool into giving me a ride in his car” Rainbow Dash laughed and Callahan muttered “I can hear you, you know that right?” and Rainbow Dash turned to Callahan and hit herself in the head “well duh… hey don’t worry about it, some ponies just aren’t as smart as me” she laughed and turned to Twilight “hey you got the new Daring Do book yet?” she asked Twilight who nodded. They walked over and Twilight pulled out a new looking book “just came in this morning… Daring Do and the Shadow’s light” Twilight informed Rainbow Dash who grabbed the book and looked at the cover intensely “oh yeah baby, I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time” Rainbow Dash replied and Twilight looked to Callahan. “Can I help you Mr. uhm…” Twilight asked as she extended her hoof to greet him. Callahan returned the gesture and shook her hoof replying “Callahan, uhh I need you help if you don’t mind”. She nodded and looked at his face “Well I’m no doctor but if you can’t go to the hospital for whatever reason I think I have some disinfectant upstairs” she informed him and Callahan face-hoofed and he let out a grunt of pain as the cat scratches seared with pain from the touch of his hoof, the cuts were definitely infected but Callahan figured he could wait a little longer. “No what I meant was, could you help me find this pony?” Callahan asked as he brought out the picture of Fluttershy and Twilight examined it “oh of course, hold on a minute while I close the library and we’ll go to Fluttershy’s right away” she replied helpfully and Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up at the comment. “Hey Callahan good buddy good pal… if you’re heading out that way I don’t suppose you’d mind giving me a lift, I coincidently need to go that way” Rainbow Dash asked and Callahan scrunched his nose. “I don’t know I clearly remember you calling me a dork” Callahan replied and Rainbow Dash shrugged “no, I called you a fool and besides it was all in good fun” Rainbow Dash explained and Callahan let out a sigh of defeat “Fine you can come with us” Callahan replied and Rainbow Dash let out a silent ‘yes’. “Spike I’m going out, don’t forget to wash the dishes when I’m gone” Twilight called out and a purple dragon popped out wearing a cleaning apron and was holding a mop. “Of course Twilight, I’ll get right on it” he replied and zipped off. Callahan walked out of the library and Rainbow Dash zipped into his car even before Twilight had closed the library doors. “Shotgun” Rainbow Dash yelled and hoped in the passenger seat. Squeak poked his head out of Callahan’s coat pocket and let out a weakened squeak. Callahan looked to him “don’t worry buddy, I think I’ve found some-pony who can help you”