The alley was disgusting, rotten remains of an assortment of once-novelty foods were scattered everywhere. It would gross out even normal ponies. It was good Wicked wasn't a normal pony. With her wings tucked in at her sides and part of her hair covering her eyes; replacing her horn she trudged on. The alley led to a smaller road, in which she could probably escape into a more secluded environment from, without being seen with her new additions. She peered around the edge of the stone brick that ended the alleyway. Nopony was in sight. Wicked took her chance and fled for the Everfree as quick as she could. What she didn't know, was a certain pink pony with a yellow mane was watching from a distance.
Song climbed the flight of stairs as quick as she could. The stairs were solid as brick, compared to the robotic ones back at Aperture. Song pushed the thought out of her mind, remembering that *something* might have been in danger above. She came face to face to a filly, with the messiest mane that Song had seen so far. Sweetie, isn't it? Song thought, hating to get the name wrong. "Is there something wrong?" Song Serenade asked Sweetie, who was staring at shreds of paper.
"The dumb cat shredded my painting of me and my big sis" Sweetie complained, her voice squeaking halfway through.
Song Serenade turned her head to look at the guilty party. The cat stared back at her, then stalked off to a corner. Song looked up at Sweetie. "Don't worry Sweetie, I believe you can make a better one if you try." She paused for a minute "Maybe you'll be even better then Rattmann" she whispered to herself. Song left the room, knowing everything would be okay.
"Better than a rat?" Sweetie Belle asked herself, her voice once again squeaking in confusion. "Anyone could be better than a rat" she sighed before levitating a paintbrush in a weak green aura.
"Darling, perfect timing." The voice of Rarity chimed in as she pulled the last stitch to a close. The saddlebags were now complete, due to Rarity's almost-perfected skills. The bag was one of the best quality ones that could be bought in the radius of the Town. Rarity levitated the bags over to Song and fit her with them.
"Rarity, it's perfect!" Song exclaimed, looking at the shiny, new saddlebags. The bag's form looked as if a professional from the highest-quality stores would have made it. The Aperture logo was perfectly lined up. Song pushed a few bits forward. "I'm sorry Rarity, but this is all I have." Song appologized.
"Darling, please. We are friends, are we not? My friends should get the best quality fashion straight from my Boutique, and no less. If I didn't do such deeds, I would not be Rarity at all." Rarity spoke in a friendly tone.
Song shook her head. "I'll find a way to repay you." she promised, placing her bits in the saddlebags and heading for the door.
"No need dear." Rarity called out.
Song once again followed the busy path through the marketplace, dodging and weaving through the busy last-minute-shoppers, following what she thought was the way to the small Cottage.
"Carrots, top grade carrots for sale!" A orange-maned mare called out.
"Apples for sale, the best in Equestria" Applejack called out in a louder voice.
Song looked around, the variety of foods was impressive, for coloured equines. She always thought horses ate only carrots, apples and oats. This 'Ponyville' place proved her wrong. She continued trotting at a normal pace through the marketplace, wondering what she could do with the bits she had; if she was confident enough to spend it. She didn't know if she should have spent more bits, they were Fluttershy's after all.
After a few minutes, the tops of trees could be seen in the distance. Song Serenade decided to slow down, now that she knew she came the right way. She took the minutes she had left before she got back to her temporary house to reflect on her day.
Stairs, Authentic, wooden stairs. Not metal ones. Who would have known? Song thought to herself.
Where ever I am, it must be far away from Michigan. Song took note. I'm pretty sure the outside world would have technology. she sighed at the lack of facts of where she was. 'Ponyville' was an awkward name that wouldn't fit into America. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the cottage.
Song knocked at the door, waiting patiently for Fluttershy to let her in. Fluttershy flew to the door and peered out before letting her new friend in. Song emptied her saddlebags of the bits, pushing them towards Fluttershy. "I'm sorry I spent some" she sighed, flipping some of her main over her eyes, afraid of the outcome.
"It's. Um. Okay?" Fluttershy whispered back. "I meant for you to get something for yourself anyways" she folded her wings and looked away. "You can... keep the bits if you want."
Out of Fluttershy's surprise, Song pushed the bits to Fluttershy, nodded while saying 'Thank you' and then returning to her room.
Fluttershy slowly took the bits and put them with the others she earned from her small animal business. She returned to the kitchen, getting the feed for her pets. They aren't pets, they are family. Fluttershy thought to herself, ashamed she would call the critters pets.
Song entered the room and took her place near the window once more. She took off her saddlebags and placed them on the windowsill. She put her hoof over the simple logo Even if the others think its ...just a camera piece, it will always stand for Aperture and hope in my heart. Song thought to herself, remembering all the events that happened back at her true home.
Fluttershy soon appeared at Song's door. "Um, Dinners almost ready" she told the white mare, before returning to her cooking.
Wicked Beats galloped through the thick branches of the Everfree. She, as any Ponyville resident knew that being at the forest at such a time was dangerous. Being in the Everfree alone at all was a risk. Wicked heard stories about the manticores and cockatrices, but she was sure meeting Octavia in such a state would be a worse fate. She trudged on, her fur getting pulled by the various thorns. It would soon be nighttime, making the mythical creatures more active. Wicked had to find a shelter.
Wicked looked down just in time, another patch of the horrible flower stood in front of her, but this time the patch was bigger and the plants were wild, not strategically placed. The white pegasus unfurled her wings, backed up and took a running leap over the majority of the flowers. Before she touched down she flapped her wings in a frantic beat, just giving her enough thrust to miss the last row. She shook her mane, getting rid of the miscellaneous leaves that somehow lodged themselves in it.
She carried on, as the Sun began to drastically fall into the horizon, passing the Moon as it made it's way into the Night sky. Wicked Beats groaned at the aspect of encounters becoming more probable. As the final touches, the stars were added to the sky, a distant light became more transparent. Wicked hurried to it, hoping it would be a sign of the forest's end. As she got closer to the light, she saw a small shack with distant masks decorating it and an eerie green light pulsating from it. The door started to open. Wicked turned around and ran; for she knew who that was.
As soon as Wicked was far away enough, she sat down. I thought she was just a Nightmare Night story. A disguise. Luna, why does such a pony exist? Wicked thought to herself, misjudging the owner of the shack. Wicked Beats was too tired to continue on, so she found a spot, a small 'cave' made out of a fallen tree and decided to use that as a temporary shelter.
Soon enough, Song Serenade was called out of her room by a friendly hummingbird for dinner. She didn't want to impose on Fluttershy, especially when she didn't feel like she had to eat at such a time. As she got out to the main room, she bi-passed the mass of eating animals which took up most of the room. Angel, the snow-white bunny gave Song another glance of annoyance, before going back to his bowl. Song Serenade made her way to the small table, which Fluttershy was still setting up.
The dinner was simple, some hayfries with a few carrots. It's probably the equine equivalent to Fish and Chips Song reflected to herself. Fluttershy finally sat down, Song joining her.
"Um sorry for the small amount of food" Fluttershy said apologetically. "I didn't have enough time to get some hayfries when I was shopping for Angel's dessert." She glanced away. "I hope you don't mind."
Song shook her head. "It's no problem at all" she said, waving her food at the fries. "This is enough for us." She hated to admit the fact she didn't feel like eating.
The two ponies started to eat, both being completely silent. Oddly enough, Fluttershy happened to be the one to break the silence. "Your saddlebags were made by Rarity, right?".
Song nodded. "How did you know?"
"Shes one of my best friends, I meet her at least once a week to hangout at the Spa, maybe you should come with us," Fluttershy said, she looked at the small calender she kept near the table. "oh, um. Tomorrows a Spa day, would you like to come with us?"
Song agreed to, finished her small dinner and returned to her room. It was fully Night by the time she did. The mare stared out the window one last time before laying down in her bed. She sighed, wondering if the other turrets even missed her.
Day came quicker than expected, with the roosters awakening the ponies in the Cottage. Song arose first, grabbing her saddlebags and looking out at the Sun. Who knows, maybe I'll meet this Princess, and maybe she can help me. the mare thought to herself. She exited her room and entered the main room in the cottage, waiting for Fluttershy to awaken before wandering out into the mass of early-shoppers. Some of the animals were already awake; the rooster of course, a few mice and squirrels. Song lowered her head to get a closer view at the animals, putting her hoof out to see if they trusted her.
The animals backed away at first, but after a while they decided to come forward. Song extended her hoof and patted them over the head with it. They didn't seem to mind at all, but scattered when hoof steps could be heard. Fluttershy had woken and was in the hallway, the animals running to her for their breakfast.
"Good Morning Song" Fluttershy greeted, half asleep still.
"Good Morning Fluttershy" Song said, turning to face the yellow pegasus. She looked over at the door. "Is it okay if I go out now and meet up with you later?" She asked her host.
Fluttershy yawned, then nodded. "I need to harvest my garden and check on the chickens anyways. Just be back by lunchtime so we can meet Rarity at the Spa."
"Will do!" Song Serenade said enthusiastically before leaving the cottage and trotting through the marketplace. She wanted to find out more about this weird town, and perhaps get some clue on what level technology it was capable of owning.
Wicked Beats awoke from a gentle breeze that ruffled her mane. It was later than she willed it to be, as her plan was get out of the Everfree, and find a suitable hangout before anypony would awaken. Since her plans were botched, Wicked decided to still get out of the Everfree, but find the next best area to stay in. If Wicked Beats were to learn how to fly in such a short time, Cloudsdale could be an option. The pegasi would hate to have to stow-away on the train, she didn't wish to be seen any worse than she already had.
She climbed out of the thicket and started to walk to the edge of the forest, her mane getting messier as she walked. She sighed and put her hoof over her mane to calm it down, into the style known as "Wicked Beats". As the pony trudged on, she got lost. All she knew was the forest seemed to go on forever.
Song once again found herself in the marketplace. She was getting used to the area and din't get that lost anymore. She passed the usual stalls; Fruits, Vegetables and herbs.
The next few stores she passed were unusual; One was a Quills and Sofas store, which Song didn't expect to see at all. The other was a music shop and club combination. Song continued on, passing more shops. She was heading to the library to check the books for possible technology.
A yellow maned mare passed Song. The mare turned around and stared at Song for a second, as if she were intimidated by Song's appearance, before returning to her usual routine.
The mare trotted through town, going to a particular shop. When she got to her destination, she entered the shop slowly, letting the chimes announce her arrival. "Coming." A voice sounded.
A sandy coated mare appeared from a door behind the counter. "Oh, hi Lily" The mare cheerfully greeted her friend.
"Good morning Bonbon" Lily said. Bonbon opened up a gate, allowing Lily behind the counter and into the back of the shop, which; in fact was more welcoming. A bowl of Bonbon's signature sweets were placed on a neatly lined table. Lily sat down on the couch.
"Lyra! We have visitors!" Bonbon yelled to alert her friend.
"Mph" Lyra grunted, half asleep.
Bonbon rolled her eyes. "Ignore her."
Lily smiled, knowing that it was 'Just Lyra being Lyra.'
Bonbon started the discussion. "I've seen some weird ponies this week."
Lily tilted her head. "So have I"
"The one I've seen looks just like Vinyl Scratch, but as a pegasus" Bonbon described 'Wicked'.
"I've seen her too." Lily admitted. "I've also seen an all-white pony with glowing eyes."
Bonbon was now intrigued.
"If I am not hallucinating, and you saw the pegasus-Vinyl too...then that might mean...."
"Mean what?" Bonbon questioned.
"What if changelings are in the town?" Lily began. "Vinyl doesn't have such advanced magic to change her species, and I never knew of a white pony before. Especially one with such a quality." Lily extended her hooves then started to shake Bonbon. "Changlings. They might be anywhere, stealing our loved ones and the poor, defenseless children; to replace them then FEED OFF OF THEM."
Bonbon removed Lily then nodded in agreement. The reasoning seemed possible, especially with the way 'Vinyl' had her mane styled. What if they were drones who had little experience in shape shifting?
"Bonbon, we have to tell the guards. Could you imagine if Ponyville was overrun with them? It would be like the Canterlot wedding all over again." She put a hoof to her face. "The horror! The horror!"
Bonbon had doubts once more, her friend did overreact most of the times; but what if it was true?