//------------------------------// // The scrambled feelings // Story: A Turret's Serenade // by Silent Flash //------------------------------// Song entered the library. "Goodmorning Twilight" she said to the librarian. "Hello Song, what may I do for you?" The unicorn asked. "I'm looking for some books on technology." Song responded, looking at all the books. Twilight clapped her hooves, finally able to pull out some books from the dusty shelves. She levitated a few down to Song. "Here are a few!" Song flipped through the books, pictures of older, oil lamps resided at the front, then it evolved into the normal light bulb. The book didn't mention computers at all, although it briefly mentioned that some more advanced technology was around. Song looked up at Twilight. "Do you have any, uhh, technology here at the library?" She inquired, hoping for at least a simple laser. Twilight nodded energetically. "I have somethings downstairs in my lab" she headed for a staircase. "Wish to come and see it?" Song followed Twilight down the small flight of stairs. She didn't expect the large line of scientific tubes and liquids. She avoided the glass at all times she could, afraid of the substances in them. In the middle of all the liquids, lay a seat that seemed to be hooked up to odds and ends. To Song, it looked like a mix of a bad science experiment and a typewriter. "This is a little machine I made to try and understand Pinkie's physics" Twilight explained, touching the machine. "If Pinkie was in it longer than one minute, it would have probably exploded." Song nodded, then stepped forward. The device seemed to have a few very basic memory boards, a printer and a few coloured lights. It wasn't the most advanced technology, but maybe she could make something out of it. Twilight turned to Song. "What do you think?" She asked the white mare. "Interesting." Song muttered. "Could you get more of these materials?" Song asked Twilight, pointing towards the boards and the wires." "You're a scientist too?!?" Twilight asked, almost screaming. "Oh my gosh I thought I was the only Scientist in Ponyville!" Twilight exclaimed. She looked away sheepishly. "I mean," she cleared her throat. "Of course." Song smiled at the thought of being able to work with wires again, and exited the mini lab. "One last thing." "Yes?" "Can I take out those books?" Song questioned. "Of course! I'll sign them out right away!" Twilight said, quickly levitating a quill out of some ink and taking note on the few books. Song smiled and put the books in her saddlebags. Maybe this place isn't as bad as I thought it was. Bonbon was called to the front of the store by the chimes once more. She left her unconscious friend on the couch, knowing that Lily Valley would be okay by herself for awhile. When she got to the counter, she didn't see a pony, as she expected to see. She looked down and saw a purple, scaled dragon. "Hi Bonbon, Twilight gave me some bits a while ago which I forgot about. Do you have any candied gems in stock?" Spike asked, licking his lips. "Left back corner, next to the wrapped bon-bons." Bonbon told him, happy to serve the small dragon. Spike rushed to the back corner. Assorted gems lay in one container, another was straight up rubies, emeralds and then there were the sapphires. Spike couldn't take it. There was too much, and he only had a few bits! He chose the rubies, one of his favorites and returned to the counter. He gently pushed the gems towards Bonbon. "Is this all?" Bonbon asked one of her devoted customers. Spike gulped, thinking about the other sweets "Yes, I'm kinda short on bits for anything else." He admitted. He spent the other portion of his money to buy a little something for Rarity. Bonbon thought for a minute, before leaning closer to Spike. "I'll let you have one more pack of gems if you can do a favor for me." Spike looked at Bonbon, as if he was confused and didn't believe it. "What favor?" Bonbon pulled out a sheet of paper and some ink and began to write. "If you send this letter to Canterlot, than I'll let you have some more gems." She told him. Spike scurried off to the corner of the store, grabbing an assorted gems package and dashing back. By the time her got back, Bonbon had finished writing the letter and wrapped it up with a fancy ribbon. She quickly put the gems, the letter and the receipt into a bag and passed it to Spike. Spike in change, licked his lips again as he exited the store. Bonbon returned to her friend, who was still passed out. She went to the small kitchen and got a pack of ice. Bonbon sighed "Some things I do for my friends." Song was trotting down the path of the marketplace again, returning to Fluttershy's before the 'Spa' meeting. Song herself didn't know what a Spa was, other than the fact that humans; mostly female humans, loved it. Maybe the 'Spa' would help her fit in more with the other pastel ponies, so she could get more help on getting back to her home. As she thought, she passed many ponies, but only one voice greeted her. When she turned around to see who it was, she saw a small purple dragon. "Hi Spike!" Song greeted. Spike held onto his gems tighter. "Hey Song, going shopping?" "Actually I'm heading back to Fluttershy's" "If you see Rarity, say 'Hi' for me." Spike said, thinking of his love. "Can do" Song continued on, passing the last few houses before trotting onto the usual path. Song crossed the small bridge to Fluttershy's cottage and slowly opened the door, which was left open, because Fluttershy was in the back garden. Song went to her room and sat her saddlebag down, the books spilling out of it. "Um, Song is that you?" Fluttershy asked from the front door. "Yes, Fluttershy" Song confirmed. "Oh thank goodness, I thought you were some robber for a second." Fluttershy admitted. She just finished working with her garden, and harvested a good amount of carrots. Fluttershy shut the door and went to the storage bins she prepared, sorting out the carrots into them. Song returned to Fluttershy. "Good harvest?" She asked, trying to keep up a conversation. "Well, yes, although something broke my Poison Joke barrier." She shook her head. "Somepony must have been sneaking around the house lately." "I haven't seen anyone." Song told Fluttershy. Fluttershy put the last carrot away and shut the bins. "Oh my, it's almost Spa time!" Fluttershy reminded Song. "Are you ready?" Song nodded. Fluttershy opened the front door and led the way out, Song making sure it was locked. The pair of ponies headed back to the heart of the town, a brilliant blue and pink building stood out, laced with flowers. Fluttershy opened the door, and the pair were greeted by two earth ponies, both with pink and blue hues. Fluttershy nodded to them, and as they rushed off to get prepared, Fluttershy approached Rarity. "Um, I'm sorry about being late Rarity, I can't remember the last time I did." She apologized. A newspaper was put down and the unicorn got up. "Oh Darling, you shouldn't be sorry at all. It's not like I would go on without you." Rarity spoke. "Hello Rarity." Song greeted. "Oh Darling! Are you joining us for the afternoon?" Rarity asked. Fluttershy interrupted. "Yes she is, I'm paying." Rarity put a hoof on Fluttershy's. "Darling, you shouldn't. I'll pay this time." Rarity told her. "Rarity you shouldn't have." Fluttershy said. "What are friends for?" One of the Spa twins appeared at the door. "The sauna is ready." She told Rarity. "Thank you, Lotus dear." Rarity responded, leading the other two ponies to the sauna room. The door creaked shut as Spike slipped into the Library. "Heya Twi" He greeted his faithful friend, informally. "About time you got home Spike, you know it's almost time to start sorting out the returns." Twilight added. Spike put down his bag, his gem's spilling out. "Spike, what did I tell you about splurging our money over gems." Spike rolled his eyes, looking down at the bags afterwards. He grabbed the bags and started upstairs to put them in his small basket. Twilight Sparkle noticed something fall out of Spike's bag as he left. "Spike, another scroll? What is it this time? A bill from Donut Joes?" Spike ran downstairs. "Thanks for the reminder Twi!" He grabbed the scroll. "I promised to send this to Canterlot for some gems." Twilight sighed. "Do as you please Spike, but you promised me to help re-shelve. An emerald fire lit up the scroll for a second, before vanishing into thin air. "Done." Spike told Twilight, before resuming his job as World's Number One Assistant. Rarity and Fluttershy already got into the Sauna, Song was a bit resistant. "Cmon Darling, haven't you seen a Spa before?" Rarity urged Song. Water...Short-circuits... Song Serenade thought to herself. "Fluttershy wouldn't have gotten in if it were even the slight bit dangerous." Rarity added, hoping it would be enough. Song slowly moved forward and put a hoof in the water; the reaction she got was a short tingling, but nothing big. She slowly slid into the small pool and sighed. "See Song? It's okay!" Rarity said. Song smiled. "I guess it is" She admitted. Back home it wouldn't be. she thought. Maybe being a biotic thing has it's advantages. Then again I miss my old shell. A knock came from the door, which was weird, giving the door was always open at such a time, and that the chimes gave enough of a warning that someone was there. Bonbon made her way to the front of the shop, allowing who ever was there, in. She was half surprised to see a Royal Guard, adorned with his armor and a spear. Bonbon opened the door. "Good afternoon, Madam. It seems like we have had a recent letter of concern from this area, are you Miss Bonbon by any chance?" He spoke in a straight, bold voice. Bonbon nodded, her hair bouncing. She opened the door fully, allowing the guard to step inside. "We can talk in the main room." She told him, allowing the Guard into her house. Lily, who finally recovered from her recent unconsciousness, rushed to the guard. Bonbon pushed her away. "Leave him alone, Lily. He's here to do his job." The guard dropped his spear as Lily backed up. "I'm just here for details on the 'Changelings' you've spotted." "Well, I've seen a pony with the same colours as the neighborhood DJ, Vinyl Scratch. The only difference was that it was a pegasus." Bonbon started. The guard nodded. "By any chance, did anyone else see them?" Lily nodded. "I've seen the same figure rush into the Everfree at an unusual time." The guard thought for a second. "That definitely sounds like a changeling." he muttered. "Changelings usually are sent out in pairs, by what we have seen. Are there any other changelings that may be around?" He asked. "Well I've seen this weird pony around that I've never seen before." Lily admitted. "An albino, and they must be rare." she waved her hooves around, for a dramatic effect. "Her eyes even seemed to glow!" She added in. The guard merely nodded again before giving a 'Thanks' to the two ponies and heading out again. A knock came at the door. "Coming!" Twilight yelled, annoyed at the disturbance. As soon as she opened the door up, a force almost knocked her over. "Twiley!" "Shiny? Is that you?" Twilight asked. "You got me little sis." Shining Armor admitted, rubbing his sister on the head. Twilight hugged her big brother. "So what are you in Ponyville for?" "Changelings." He muttered. Twilight gasped. She hadn't heard of changelings since the wedding incident. "Do you know where the most possible place a hive or hideout for changelings might be?" Shining Armor asked her, his stance now serious. "Try the Everfree or Froggy Bottom Bog." Twilight answered. "Thank you once more Twily, I swear I will spend more time with you when I'm off-duty" He said, before retreating into Ponyville.