//------------------------------// // I Spy // Story: Time Bubbles // by peppermint_twist //------------------------------// “Wanna go grab some lunch?” the batpony asked coolly. “Oh sweet Celsetia, yes! I haven’t had a good meal in ages! The only thing I’ve been snacking on is the occasional muffin or two.” She patted her stomach which had now begun to growl. “How ‘bout Cloud Hopper’s café? I remember you used to love that place.” “It’s still there?! Let’s go!” She giddily exclaimed. They began to slowly walk along the street, passing pegasi giving them strange looks. A batpony and weird eyed pegasus? Not something indigenous to Cloudsdale. Cloud Hopper’s café, The Doctor scribbled down on a notepad he had found in Derpy’s saddlebag when she wasn’t looking. The stallion wasn’t used to writing with his mouth, so the pencil made weird, slightly legible marks. “Why aren’t we going to the zoo again?” asked an exasperated Kacoonis. “I believe Derpy’s in grave danger. I mean, that guy looks like bad news. I mean seriously, bat wings? Don’t you think-“ “That’s a bit racist,” She stated. She knew the real reason he was tagging along. Oh, the drama! The Doctor shrugged it off to see the couple far away. “They’re moving!” He exclaimed. He stalked up to a lamp post, and then hid behind it, back against the pole and hind legs supporting him. He peered around with his blue eyes to make sure they weren’t watching. The earth pony rushed into a small group of mares. They all gave him condescending looks before dispersing. Beads of sweat rolled down his beige face as he tried to hold his breath, causing a scrunch face. Kacoonis sighed and walked up to the unusual pony, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him to a nearby street corner. “Doctor, this is ridiculous. I understand that you’re jealous, but seriously. You don’t have to act like this! If you really want to follow them, just follow them! No need to duck behind random ponies and hide behind lamp posts!” The Doctor sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. We should go to the zoo-“ He looked over to the two ponies who were still heading down the street. There was a long pole with a banner that said, ‘ZOO’. He smiled and galloped up to the two, Kacoonis close behind. “Oh, hey Doctor,” Derpy greeted, surprised. “Are you two heading to the zoo as well?” He asked with a grin. “Oh yeah, the café’s right next it!” she recalled. “Well, we best not bother you, you two really have to concentrate on finding that stuff,” Derpy said in a rush. She opened up her wings, the batpony following suit, and they soared away. “Darn it!” The Doctor shrieked. He kicked at the cloudy ground. “Seriously Doctor, we should go-“ “Yes, yes, the zoo, allons-y!” He sighed, walking into the pearly white gates of the Cloudsdale Zoo. “Hello, and welcome, to the Cloudsdale Zoo!” A way-too perky voice hollered. Kacoonis and the Doctor turned their head in confusion to a mare in a beige vest that had perky pins all over it. Keep on flying, Defy Gravity, Smile!, were all different pins stuck onto the apparel. “Uh, hullo,” The Doctor greeted. “My name is Rainbow Shines, and I will be your guide through the Land of the Birds! Ka-caw!” Her voice went up and down with great exaggeration. Her wide grin was completely fake by the look of her eyes. Her frizzy tangerine hair had way too much mane spray in it that it looked as hard as a rock. “The Land of the Birds?” Kacoonis inquired. “Yep-arooni! The Land of the Birds is our biggest attraction yet, with thousands of birds from places way beyond Equestria!” Finding that bird will be like finding a needle in a haystack, Kacoonis thought, sending the psychic message to the Doctor. How will we even- his thought were interrupted by the annoying guide. “And here, we have the Amare-azon section! Now, this is the largest one because many birds live in Amare-azon! Now this…“ Oh, that was easy, The Doctor thought. “Um, excuse me, Rainbow Shines?” he poked the guide. “We heard from the locals that there’s this really old bird from Amare-azon. Will you kindly show us it?” “Why, of course!” She nodded quickly. “Now, old Feathers is one of the few birds that ponies are actually allowed to handle! He is hundreds of years old, based on what local scientists tell us. Feathers is quite the sight! Though he is old, he looks brand new, just like how a phoenix works! He is extremely calm and collected, so don’t worry your little pony heads-he won’t lash out at ya!” She trotted over to a large green bird whom was resting on a little pole, not in a cage like all the others. It was really large. Really. It must have been as tall as a normal pony, maybe even taller. It was slim and sleek, its forest green feathers glistening in the nearby sun. It opened its once resting eyes to reveal fiery red circles. “Do any of ya wanna handle ol’ Feathers?” She asked with a smile, sticking out a hoof and letting the tall bird hop onto the cream coloured foreleg. “How do you do that? It’s at least a meter tall!” Kacoonis exclaimed. “Why, ol’ Feathers here is real light! Just like, well, a feather! I would be a goner if he stretched out a wing though, those things are three meters long!” She giggled. “May I?” The Doctor asked, sticking out a hoof. “Why, of course!” She placed the large fowl onto his foreleg. Much to the Doctor’s surprise, he was light as a feather. ‘Rainbow Shines, please come to the ticket booth,’ an electric sound crackled from loud speakers. “Oopsie! Seems like I’m needed elsewhere!” She perkily stated. “I’ll leave you two with Feathers, he won’t bite! Don’t worry!” And with that, she zoomed away. “So, uh, what’s this bird supposed to do?” Kacoonis poked the Bird. It just stared at her questioningly. “I don’t really…” He trailed off, seeing out of the corner of his eye a sign that read, ‘Cloud Hopper’s café’. “We need to get that book from Derpy,” he muttered. Kacoonis sighed. They did need the book, but the Doctor would start spying again… “How about you stay here with the bird while I go get the book,” And with that, she flew away, leaving a sad Doctor alone with a bird. Kacoonis happily skipped over to the café that was feet away from the Doctor. She pushed open the glass door, sounding the bell. She saw the two at a small pastel coloured round table, chatting and giggling. Derpy had a half-eaten muffin next to her and empty plates. Half-eaten muffin?! She must really like this batpony if she’s not finishing that… Kacoonis thought. Derpy’s eyes lit up when she saw the white pegasus strutting in. “Hey Ka-er, Rosetta, what’s up?” “Just wanted to borrow the book,” “Oh, sure,” Derpy ducked her head into her right saddlebag, rummaging around. She resurfaced a few seconds later with the book in her mouth and some frizzy yellow hair. “Here you go,” She muttered with the book still in between her teeth. “Thanks,” Kacoonis took the book and left the café, a smile on her face. She waved to the Doctor who was probing the calm bird. “Got the book,” she muttered, settling it down on the cloud. “They are really good ‘friends’, you know? They’re all giggling and smiling… Don’t pretend you’re not jealous!” She raised a brow. The Doctor muttered something inaudible while opening up the book to the specific page. “Here Feathers, anything you want to do?” The bird squawked in return. “Here,” he hoofed over the bird. “Hey!” Kacoonis called. The bird shrieked at Kacoonis. She sighed. “Whatever,” The Doctor walked up to the café door and stood by it. He pricked his ear and closed his deep blue eyes, enhancing his senses. “-Oh mare, I can’t believe you did that!” Derpy shrieked. Shadow Crawler chuckled. There was a silence. Are they… kissing? The Doctor asked out of fright. “Um, why are you staring at me? Do I have something in my teeth or-“ “Just staring at your beautiful golden eyes,” The Doctor could practically hear her blush. “Oh, Shadow…” “Wanna go out some time? I really enjoy this time with you… alone,” “Shadow, I-I-“ Derpy stopped for a long time, then finally, “I’m sorry, but, I-I can’t. I’m really sorry,” That was all the Doctor needed to know. He opened his eyes and made a silent jig; he cheered, then coughed, straightened his red bowtie, and walked back to Kacoonis. Luckily for Derpy, he didn’t hear the next part. “Shadow, I would’ve, definitely. I had a major crush on you back at flight school. When you and Rainbowdash went out, I kept… I felt weird. I mean, you know, I would’ve today, but-“ Derpy blushed. “Is it that earth pony?” He asked, not out of hatred or jealousy, just out of curiosity. Derpy was quiet for a long time. “Yes.” She murmured, blush spreading throughout her whole face. “I… whenever I’m with him, my heart starts to pound, I get a rush in my head, and I start getting dizzy. And, oh sweet Celestia, those eyes! So blue and deep, nothing like my stupid messed up ones. He stood up for me when ponies were being mean and he’s so unique! He talks funny and he is so smart and-just-ugh! It’s hard getting it out…” she rambled. During this, Shadow Crawler just smiled sweetly. He knew there was something going on between the two. Don’t get him wrong, he really did like Derpy. She was truly beautiful and those eyes were just adorable, no need for ridicule! They always sparkled and were the perfect shade of gold. Her hair was always messy in a cute way, and she had so much in common with him. He started to feel this way since he started dating Rainbowdash, though, he couldn’t hurt the rainbow-maned pegasus’ feelings, of course. He leaned over and gave a peck on the cheek to his foalhood friend. With longing eyes he muttered with much care, “Maybe some time later, we could hang out again?” A tear began to form in his stone cold neon green eyes, but he held it back, his face heating up. “Yeah, yeah, I would like that,” She said with her cute little smile, a slight dimple in her right cheek. With that, she got up and gave a short kiss on her friend’s cheek and left, the little bell sounding. This, is when he cried. He looked out the glass wall, seeing that little buttery tail wagging around. Tears streamed down his slate grey face as he made sure nopony saw. This was his little secret and his huge burden. Could he ever forget about this amazing pegasus? Perhaps not, she was one of a kind. *** “Come on bird! Do something!” The Doctor screamed. “Doctor, quiet down, we’re in a public place,” Kacoonis muttered, a bead of sweat forming on her brow as other ponies stared. “I DON’T CARE! THIS IDIOTIC BIR-“ “Hay, what in the name of Celestia is going on here?” Derpy asked, pouting whilst her eyebrows pointed down in fury. “This bird won’t do anything!” The Doctor whined like a little colt. Derpy examined the bird for a while. “What’s wrong with its wings?” The Bird squawked in return. “What do you mean?” Kacoonis asked, trying to set a calm, collective example for the frustrated stallion. “Well, I mean, anypony with wings needs to stretch them at some point, even if they’re hurt. It’s not good to. I don’t think anypony could ever do it either, by nature, you gotta stretch out those wings eventually, otherwise your body will just…” Derpy grabbed one of its wings in her slippery hooves, the bird cawing in protest. Its body was like a statue and the wings were glued shut. Everypony began to stare at the trio harassing that poor, defenseless bird. One pink pony even ran off. Soon, the zoo keepers were there, the pink pegasus leading, telling them to calm down. “I’m sorry sirs, but when was the last time this bird stretched out its wings?” Kacoonis asked with a gleam in her eyes. “Why, missy, I’m sorry but-“ He stopped dead, his eyes glazed over green. “About 3 months ago. The vets say he should be opening them up sometime today. They say that his body is going to force him to,” “Thank you so much!” Kacoonis dismissed. Again, another glaze over, and they stomped away, like the zomponies in movies. The Doctor cocked an eyebrow. “What? I just asked nicely,” Kacoonis teased. “Whatever,” muttered Derpy. She took the bird and set it down, back on the little wooden perch. “Guess we’re going be keeping an eye on that bird for the rest of the day?” The Doctor nodded, “Let’s play some I Spy,”