CHP 9
Access Denied, Find a New Ride
(side note, theme music will start a little into the chapter)
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If anypony was out on the streets of Gadsden this morning, it would have been a pleasant sight after the morning rain. Birds had come back out, and a breeze had begun to pick up. Nothing at all seemed unusual on this Wagnesday morning. That was, except for the zebra madly running through the streets.
“Come on, please oh please be here. That ticket has to be near.” I muttered to myself as I returned to the street bench I had been sitting at only minutes before. I scoured the bench of any piece of paper that I thought looked even the slightest bit like the bus ticket. “Gum wrapper, no... fast food bag, no... diaper... ew!” I backed away in disgust at the discarded diaper. ‘Seriously, who leaves a dirty diaper by a bench? ‘
There was nothing there that even remotely resembled the bus ticket. I groaned as I hit my head against the bench in frustration. “Of course it wouldn't be this easy, why would there ever be a break for me.” I moaned in despair. It seemed as if karma had been out to get me today.
I sat down for a moment, making sure to place as much distance between me and the used diaper, and tried to think again. The ticket couldn't have vanished in thin air despite evidence to the contrary. It had to have ended up somewhere. If it wasn't anywhere around the park bench, there could only a few options left.
I knew it wasn't along the sidewalk. If it was anywhere along the path I would definitely have seen it by now. I had searched the route between the terminal and bench twice already. That in itself eliminated most of the possibilities. The only other idea that came to mind was that it had somehow managed to slip out of my pocket during the ride.
That seemed like a logical conclusion. But if it was true, I’d have to somehow get myself through the station gate and to the bus again. I grimaced at the thought about the guard again. Surely the ticket was there, then he would have to at least hear me out. In all likelihood Roger had probably found it by now and the whole problem would resolve itself.
I got up and let my confidence rally around those thoughts before I turned back to the terminal in a brisk trot. There were still a couple of minutes to make it back to the bus if I hurried. I tried not to think of what would have happened if I didn't make it back on. “Just leave those worries behind, try to keep good thoughts in mind.” I reminded myself.
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The scene in the station had changed little since I had run off. It was still crowded with the same group of humans trying to rush from here or there just as I had left it. I ignored most of them as they passed by. My mind was only dead set on getting back to the gate. There the same guard stood beside the same metal checkpoint.
The man still looked pretty intimidating in size. He probably didn’t even need the grey shirt with the word ‘Security’ so neatly stitched into it to show everyone around he was a figure of authority. As if to emphasize it he carried a pistol safely holstered against the belt of his navy blue uniformed pants. His eyes were locked onto me the moment I ran through the entrance to the station and slowed to a halt in front of him.
“I...I think I know where it’s gone at last” I gasped between breaths. “The gate, *gasp* it had never made it past. Just ask the driver where the ticket has gone, I’m sure we will find the bus it is still on.” I looked at him with cautious confidence. I was sure he’d believe me, or at least hear me out if i was right.
His eyes were unmoving as I tried to explain myself. “Now look here,” he began with a sharp tone in his voice. “I’m sorry but none of the drivers had said anything about having a pony as one their passengers today. I’ve checked with each of them myself.” He said as a matter of factually.
“What?” I asked in surprise. “But that can't be true. Why would I lie to you?” my ears flattened against my head as I looked up to him.
He crossed his arms and walked in front of the gate before he spoke again. “Perhaps because some pony may want to try to weasel themselves out of paying for a ticket.” he said sternly, “One of the drivers was speaking of a pony who had already tried using this lost ticket shit on him down in Florida.”
“I assure you this is not a scam,” tried desperately to convince him. “I would not dupe you with such a sham!”
He gave me a deadpan look before his face contorted. “Now look I don't know about you, but I'm not risking my job just so you can get a free pass. Sob story or not, no ticket no entry.” he said as he idly stroked the butt of his holster. I could tell he meant business now.
I backed away slowly under his orders. “Umm... I meant no disrespect,” I paused. “But what should I do next.”
“If you want on a bus so badly you can go buy yourself a ticket in the main lobby.” He said as he walked back to the side of the gate, satisfied with my intimidation. “Bus Three Fifteen is already preparing to depart. The next bus to New York will show up tomorrow morning. I may let you on that one if you bring a ticket with you then.” He took a moment to emphasize the ‘may’. This security guard seemed to enjoy his work a little too much.
I complied to his orders, turning tail between my legs back to the lobby. The last thing I wanted was to get in a fight with that behemoth of a human. In all likelihood it would end with me in a headlock or worse.
I walked as slowly as I could to the front counter, my head hung low to the ground. ‘I guess there’s no harm in buying a new ticket, but I have to wait a day?’ I cursed mentally as I made my way back up to the counter. I hated the idea of being stuck doing nothing for another whole day, but it seemed I didn't have much say to that.
I made my way to the front desk and pushed myself back up to the top of the counter. The clerk behind the counter jumped slightly at my sudden appearance, unaware that I was at the bottom of her desk. The woman seemed to be in her late thirties. “Oh... umm good morning ma’am, how may I help you today?” She recovered quickly before she gave me a polite business like smile.
“Oh, my sincerest apologies,” I asked in as gentle a tone as I could manage, “A ticket for New York please?”
“Hmmm... A ticket to New York...” she spoke as she returned smacking her gum loudly, “Looks like its going to run you one hundred and eighty five dollars.”
“One hundred eighty five?” I echoed in a flabbergasted. That would take the last bit of money I had. I let go of the counter and got back onto my hooves. If had to spend that money I’d be almost completely broke, other than my now useless debit card.
“Uhh, are you ok?” the clerk asked as she looked over the desk to me, unaware of my distress. “So should I put you down for this ticket?”
I sat there and contemplated the issue for another moment. I grabbed my wallet from out of my pocket and carefully looked back into the money pouch. I only had two hundred ninety dollars left to my name. It was more than enough to get myself to New York, but that wasn't what was worrying me.
“I won’t be gone too long, I promise,” The promise I had made to my father came back to haunt me. If I spent this all here and now, how would I get back home afterwards? I took each hundred out carefully as if my life depended on each one and just stared at them.
“Hey! Are you going to pay for the damn ticket or not?” A shout came from the line that had quickly begun to form behind me for the front desk. A handful of mutters and whispers all voiced agreement.
I had to make a decision now. I got back onto the desk and carefully placed the hundreds onto the desk. “One ticket to New York please.” I said dryly.
‘Sorry Dad... I think its going to take me a little longer to get back home than I thought.’
The clerk went to take the two hundreds from my hoof only to have her hand slip off them. I noticed that had pressed my hoof against the counter as if in a death grip on the money, not letting the hundreds out of my grasp. It barely registered to me what I was doing. I just stared at the hundreds again.
“Umm... Ma’am you're going to have to actually give me the money if you want to pay for the ticket.” The clerk spoke in confusion breaking me out of my daze.
I didn’t comply with her request, and instead dragged the money quickly back from her and off the desk. In one motion I stepped away from the desk, keeping my eyes on the teller who looked more unsure than was and backpedaled into something from behind.
I looked up at the other human I walked into before I jumped in fear before I ran out of line, taking refuge on a seat in the corner of the lobby. I just couldn't do it. My head was wrapped in indecision as I went back to a seat and sulked in misery.
I had to face a decision I didn't want to. I could press onto New York and find a way to sort out all of... this. I’d finally be able to become a normal zebra again. But it left a high price. I’d have no way to get home. However, I could always buy a ticket back to Pensacola and forget everything that had happened. But if I did that then I’d never be able to sort out what was happening to me. I grumbled as I through my forehooves against my face. I really was horrible at making decisions.
I directed my attention back to the bus and my old ticket. It still didn't make sense to me. How could a ticket have just disappeared? I knew I had it when I had entered the bus back in Pensacola. It had to have still been there. But if that was so, why didn't Roger notice it?
My thoughts went back to the driver again. ‘Roger...’ Why didn't he stop try to the bus, or at least tell the gate guard that I was with him. For that matter, what was with all those words about no one seeing me on a bus? Surely the guard must have not talked to the right bus driver... right?
But he said that that he talked to all the drivers. Roger certainly would have informed him I was on the bus, right? ‘No, this is Roger we’re talking about. He’s been nice to you ever since you stepped on that bus. But then why did he say nothing to help me get back on?’ I questioned my own thoughts. So far Roger had been the only friendly person I’d run into.
I tried to shake the doubts from my head with little effect. Roger had helped other ponies out before, he had said it himself. ‘But if that was so, why hadn't I met any of those ponies?’ My doubtful thoughts lingered despite my efforts to force them out. It was a good point.
If ponies had been traveling by bus, then they had to have been going to New York. So... unless they had got off somewhere else, then that would have meant they’d inevitably have been on the route through Pensacola. But I was the only pony there. ‘Could that have mean... ‘
“One of the drivers was speaking of one pony who had already tried using that trick on him down in Florida.” the guard’s voice echoed again in my mind.
My jaw dropped as I repeated those words again and again in my head. He must have been talking about Roger! No, no, that couldn't have been right. After all, there could have been dozens of drivers that had traveled from Florida to this station... that had carried other ponies. And then dropped them off elsewhere in Florida...
The coincidences were becoming too uncanny to ignore, even if it had been another driver. But... if that was true, then how could I trust anyone? ‘No,’ I stopped myself, ‘Roger is a good friend, and there was no way he’d betray me like that.’ I had to keep that belief alive. There must have been another reason.
Maybe it hadn't been Roger’s fault at all. Maybe he just had his hands tied up in the system? I quickly took hold of that idea. I knew he wouldn't let me down if he could have helped it. The buses must have been to blame for everything.
I looked back to the line at the counter before I turned back to my pack again. ‘If that’s the case, maybe buying a new ticket wasn’t the best idea after all. Perhaps I could just ... walk... my way to New York’. I thought as I began to strap the gourd to my side. With that I began my walk out of the station doors once more and didn't bother to look back.
I only got maybe halfway down the block before I realized how laughably short sighted my walking “plan” had been. I sighed and sat myself down on the street corner and considered my options. Buses were out of the question now, not alone. A pony seemed to be too easily taken advantage by them. Walking was a good plan, if I didn't mind getting to New York in a year or two. It would probably take forever for me to even get out of the state of Alabama.
I pulled my tablet out again and turned it back on as I thought of a third option, the all mighty internet. Maybe I could reach Vinyl. She had already offered to help me out before, but I still had no clue where she was. I directed my browser to Facebook and stared at my contacts list. To my disappointment Vinyl was offline.
“Perhaps a cry for distress as a public address?” I thought aloud. It sounded like only a half good idea at the time, not that I had to much to lose at the moment. It was desperation as usual. Something I was getting far too used to. I idly drew out my stylus and began to update my status.
“If anyone is out there and can assist, I’ve found myself in a bit of a fix. I missed the last bus call, and stuck in a town quite small. If anyone can help nearby, a meetup would be worth a try.”
‘Hope you see this Vinyl...’ I thought to myself before I minimized window and returned the Ipad back into my gourd.
Just as I zipped it up my stomach grumbled again reminding me I hadn't fed it in quite some time. “Well... not much more to do than wait...” I sighed as I got back up off the cement, “perhaps just eat another cake.”
My stomach was quick to agree. With that I began to set out for somewhere to sit down and check my rations to see what was available to me. It wasn't long before I found an out of the way tree in a small grass covered court yard that I suppose was supposed to pass for a park.
I laid out what few items I had pillaged from the kitchen out into a small meal.
A couple apples and carrots, the celery I had stolen, along with some oranges and a few other pieces of dried pineapple made up most of what I had. My mouth watered at the sight of it all.
At first I tried to be conservative with what little I had, but after the third stalk of celery and second apple I didn't give it much thought. Excusing myself from last night’s dinner, I felt like my stomach was running on almost empty. The food had been too good to just pass up.
As I finished up the last carrot however I finally looked back to my tablet, Facebook still open on it. I sighed impatiently. By now I was hoping at least someone would have seen the page. Idly I looked over the comments that had been collected on the status update. Most comments were the same. Simple expressions of sympathy from one person or another simply saying “Hang in there Zecora.” or “Don't let things get you down.”. As usual though, no ponies were replying.
‘Hang on, what's this?’ I thought to myself as I scrolled over a single comment given.
“Trixie Lulamoon here, writing from the outskirts of Gunterstown, and in the accompaniment of Snips and Snails. We noticed that you’re in need of assistance, just as we are. We propose that we bring our resources together so that we may be better able to reach New York. It would be best if we meet each other in Albertville, it is to the south of where we are, and to the north of where you are. We avidly await your response.”
“Trixie Lulamoon...” I said the name out loud as I studied the picture closely. The more I stared at the pony in the profile the more confused I was by her.
I felt I knew this pony all too well, but at the same time, I was sure I had never even heard of her. But still the memory was there. It was similar to how I knew Vinyl Scratch. But it wasn't the in the exact same way as before. With Vinyl, I thought I might have met her once, maybe even twice... but this mare... I knew for a fact that I had never had a run in with.
I put a hoof to my chin as I tried to come to some sort of conclusion. “She is a proud show mare” I mused as stared blue unicorn’s picture, “with an ego to spare...” But how did I know that? I tried to remember any bit of the mystery pony to try to jog my memory.
Something happened shortly before had been welcomed into town. There had been some sort of large crisis in Ponyville one evening, not that it was unheard of for the little town. Somehow this mare was the cause of all the panic. I shook my head at the conflicting memory. ‘If I had not been welcome in town... I couldn't possibly have known her then.’ I shook my head out of the thought again.
Finally an explanation came to mind. ‘Of course!’ I thought to myself. It must have been during one of the chats I had with Twilight when she had come to visit for tea. I began to remember the story with this magician. Twilight had gone on about it in slight detail, the boastful mare that had caused such a ruckus in town by trying to fight off a beast from the Everfree. Fortunately Twilight had managed to set everything right, but the end of the night.
I looked back down to the Facebook page with a bit of uncertainty. I could have just ignored her and waited for Vinyl to respond, but that could take ages. Perhaps this magician wasn't the best choice, but I couldn't be picky for now. I debated it only for another moment before I took out my tablet’s stylus. Trixie Lulamoon it was then.
“From my spot, that is not too far away, if I leave without delay. I’ll be reaching the bus stop soon, dear Lulamoon.”
Guntersville didn't sound like a familiar place. For all I really knew it could have been on the other side of the state. Idly I turned chrome to Google Maps to try to find the little town. It didn't take too long to find it through the search engine. To my dismay I found it rather quickly, and more importantly the distance I had to travel.
“Twenty six miles....” I groaned out loud. I got up to my hooves and looked down to the road that led back out of town. I guess I should have counted myself lucky it was as close as it was. But still, twenty six miles would take a normal person a day at least to cover. ‘Then again, I now have two sets of legs,’ thought to myself as I began to pack up my things with my hooves. I wasn't sure what a pony’s foot... err... hoof speed was, but even a house cat’s top speed was easily double that of a regular human’s. ‘Perhaps I can make it there by nightfall if I hurry.’
I looked up to the sun, still making its way to the top of the sky. I still had plenty of daylight ahead of me. If I hurried, perhaps I could make it there before nightfall. Before I knew it I had already started a light gallop down the road once more. Time to see if I’m right I guess.’ I thought to myself.
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‘...clop...’
‘...clop...’
‘...clop....’
‘Just a little further,’ I urged myself on. I had been listening to my hooves against the pavement of the side of the highway for hours now. The sound of one clop on pavement had been giving me the energy to put the next hoof forward.. ‘Just keep putting one hoof in front of the other.’ I took a moment to sneak a glance back up to the sky, where the sun had long since began to dip for the horizon. I sighed as I put another hoof forward. My guess on how long it would take me was apparently, and unsurprisingly wildly off it appeared.
My hooves ached from what started as a brisk trot, during the first hour, and then it had started to settle into a light canter after more time went by. Finally it had turned into a slow walk as I tried merely to stay on my hooves. Still, I marveled at the amount of stamina this body had. I shouldn't have been surprised though, I had walked long distances like this before I had settled down in Ponyville, this was nothing out of the ordinary. But it still was impressive to me, like it had been my first time traveling again.
Still I couldn't say that I had gotten as far as I had all by myself. About halfway through my trip I had resorted to trying to hitchhike along side of the road. As I expected through most of the day, not a single car would stop as I walked alongside the old highway between the towns.
About halfway through the day I had gotten lucky. An elderly farmer had stopped his truck. I guess at first he must have thought I was merely a sheep that had gotten loose on the side of the road given his surprised look when he looked at me. It was nothing however much to the farmer’s surprise when the “stray sheep” actually asked him for a ride.
“I have seen sheep, deer, hell even horses walking along this route, never seen a talking zebra walking alongside the road.” was all he said when I explained my situation to him. At first he was wary of letting me get into his cab. Something on about having a strange zebra riding along with him had to have been bad luck.
After almost pleading to him however I think I finally managed to make him cave. He agreed to let me ride in the bed of the truck with his tools till he got off the main highway, but no further. It was only ten miles, but ten miles I didn't have to walk and managed to get some rest for.
I grinned as I reflected on that thought. He was a nice old man, even if he was a bit cautious around talking equines. All in all he was just willing to help out another creature in trouble which was good enough for me. ‘Just like Roger had...’ No, no, don't think about that brain. I still had to try to think of the good things at least. I was almost to Albertville, and in Albertville was another pony capable of helping me. I just had to keep that in mind.
As I finally met the crest of another hill along the highway I managed to make something out in the distance. My moral skyrocketed when I made out what it was. It was a large beautiful neon green sign with the words I had been hoping to see all day highlighted on it.
WELCOME TO ALBERTVILLE
I found myself going back up to full speed when I saw the sign in the distance. Mostly because I noticed I was closing in on it much faster than I should have, along with the fact that I found myself panting and my hooves racing against the pavement. Soon enough I was sitting down looking at the sign in awe. I was starting to doubt I’d actually get here before sundown, but here I was.
The sight behind the sign quickly drew my attention however. There was a small town beyond the hill. There seemed to be only one word that I could think of when I looked at it though. Southern. There were plenty of the large old plantation style houses paralleling the streets on the outskirts of town.
A large mountain towered over the western side of town, basking the entire area in a large shadow, while a river ran lazily through the center of town. The town itself however looked completely modern from what I could tell. Many buildings seemed to be two or three story apartments, hotels and the like.
My sightseeing was cut off as a strange sound in the distance made my ears swivel to the side. At first I wasn't sure what it had been. It was low at first, but it was becoming louder with every second.
'DUB' 'DUB' 'DUB' 'DUB' 'DUB' 'DUB' 'DUB' 'DUB'
The noise quickly became a deafening. I quickly turned to face whatever was making such a racket. My face turned pale when I saw the silver prius fast approaching. Many cars had passed me before as I walked, but this one was almost exclusively driving along on the shoulder of the road, which put it right on the path for me. Within a heartbeat of seeing it I jumped for cover off the stretch of grass beside the road as the car roared past at high speed.
“*cough cough*” I wheezed from the large amount dust that the prius had kicked up as it righted itself back onto the main road. “I thought being green is what they strived. Just how do some people learn to drive...” I shook my head as I watched the car move down the hill and back out of site again. I wondered if the driver of the crazy machine had even noticed me.
I got back onto my hooves and began the long walk once again, much to my hooves’ complaints. Much like Gadsden was, this human town seemed tranquil in the late afternoon sun. Few humans were out on the streets to enjoy the dusk though, much to my gratefulness. The only humans I had seen out were a couple of casual runners.
The calm air let me think of what I needed to do next. The first of which was obvious, ‘find the bus station dumby’. Wandering around aimlessly in a town I didn't know didn't sound like a good idea. So it was back to my trusty tablet once more. The moment I turned it on however I was in for a rude shock. ‘Low power’ the words in the bottom right warned to me.
“Oh please not yet.” I tried to encourage the little tablet as I brought the browser to Google maps once again. “you’ll get charged soon, so don't you fret.” I had been too careless with how I used my Ipad all day, and now I was paying for it.
I needed to find the station quickly before nightfall set in. I wasn't sure when Trixie was planning to leave, but I doubted she’d wait all night for me to show up. I shivered at the thought. I’d already made it to another town, the idea of getting stuck here was even less appealing than buying a new ticket.
A simple search and a thumbnail later the station was located only a few blocks away. I turned off the Ipad as soon as I could and quickly I made my way off the sidewalk and to the large building in the distance.
When I finally reached the station I honestly had to admit that it was a sight to behold. It was nothing like the other stations that I had seen in Pensacola or Guntersville, not even Montgomery’s terminal looked quite this impressive.
Most of the building seemed to be made up of a vast honeycomb of steel pipes and concrete blocks. Large glass windows seemed to make up most of the exterior of the building, allowing a pony to look right into the lobby. The Greyhound Bus logo was emblazoned over the front doors.
I hesitantly looked inside, seeing the crowd of people once again as the large glass doors slid open. As soon as the fear welled up I pushed it back down however.
‘OK... ok... try not to show any fear,’ I reasoned quietly to myself, ‘just find Trixie, and you can get out of here.’ I tried to place the show pony that I had seen before in my mind again. She was blue, with a white main, containing a light blue streak in it.
As I began my search however a sea of people began to come out of the gate, a bus having just arrived. I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach again as I looked back to the door. ‘Perhaps it would be better just to leave?’ I began to think to myself, before I froze, feeling confidence come back to me from the back of my mind.
‘No, I shouldn't back away, not this day. I mustn't run to mope, finding Trixie is my only hope.’ the thought emerged as I puffed my chest out. I could do this, it was just a crowd of humans, very large humans...
After a few minutes longer I was getting the feeling I was becoming increasingly lost in this station. I couldn't find a single hair or tail of the blue show mare. ‘humm...’ I thought to myself as I sat down. ‘Did she already leave? Perhaps I took too long to get here.’ No, don't think like that brain, come on, happy thoughts.
That was when I heard a voice shouting throughout the entire lobby. It was a girl’s voice, but it had a rather tomboyish sound to it. Too much of one to be a southern accent.
“Hey, hey, hey! Let’s all take a chill pill and calm down!”