//------------------------------// // 6. Acquiescence // Story: The Mother City // by Quicksear //------------------------------// You know, that afternoon was probably one of the happiest I’d felt in about six months. The last time I felt this good was when I helped take the doors off Andrew’s Land Rover and we spent an entire day running speed trials up and down a rough runway with me hanging off the side of the wildly jumping vehicle as we careened towards certain pain. The hospital bill was totally worth it. But spending a day inside a small apartment basking in the overflow of pony hugs that seemed to fill the room was pretty close to the maximum happiness one could pack into a day. The thing is, though, that while at the time there had been no space to file a worry or complaint (Even when Pinkie Pie nearly crushed me in a sheer rib-cracker), now I had plenty of time to search out the truly agonizing facts of what could turn into a very messy situation: It was Tuesday, and that meant we had three more days before my uncle got back from his ‘business proposition’ in…Latvia I think, and when he did, we had to be as far away as possible just to avoid the shock-wave of his anger exploding at the sight of the mess we’d made of his place. (Cracked tiles, smudged glass, broken plates and one hoof-marked couch, thanks to Rainbow Dash). Today’s mission was to allow the cleaners time to minimize the damage, and to let Andrew and I get the ponies out and about. Yesterday, we had made real progress. Pinkie was at least half back to herself, Applejack had regained her energy (Thanks to eighteen cups of coffee), Rainbow Dash had smiled a few times and Rarity had managed a dramatic faint at the state of the jeans I had decided to wear after Pinkie covered my other pair in oats. Twilight, though...She was the pony I was trying to get to. Its hard to explain, but she was the hingepin of my plan. I knew that I needed to get her to open up and stop bearing all the responsibility of this situation herself, because it was crippling not only her, but her friends, not to mention my attempts to get them home. After all, that’s what they really wanted. That’s what I wanted too. Right? I shook it off and rolled away from the window as I became aware of my surroundings, noticing a few things: First, the time. The sun was barely tingeing the horizon, so it couldn't have been later than five in the morning. Second the place. I was on the floor by the glass wall, allowing me a great view of the harbour area and the lack of sunlight above it. Third, the person. I heard Andrew yawn like a rhinoceros and pull himself out of the bed, only to freeze as his sleep-filled eyes locked onto the purple Alicorn standing over me. And that brings me to the Pony. Twilight stood over me, eyes lazily scanning the view out over Table Bay and the harbour. I spent my few seconds of shock staring at her chin a few feet above me, before getting control of my faculties and plastering a painfully cheerful smile across my face. “<-Good morning to you, too Twilight->” Her reaction was quite hilariously adorable: A small sharp breath, a demure stumble and an abashed smile to complete the package. “Oh! Good morning…I was wondering how to wake you…” “A poke in the ribs woulda got ‘im awake.” Andrew droned. I chuckled at her as well. “Yeah, it sure beats awkwardly standing over a guy in the early hours of the morning, you know; not the done thing.” Twilight looked down, unsure of herself. This awkward side was something I was unfamiliar with, previously being hidden behind her insurmountable facade. “I know, I was just worrying about today. I’m still a little annoyed at all this.” I nodded. Of course she was; I would be livid if someone japed me like I had her. “I know, but you’ll see. I have this awesome plan to go all over the place! This is a big city, with lots of things to see from the bus. I really wanted to do the city bus tour anyway.” Twilight was, of course, not impressed. “Of course. It’s not like we might be seen getting on and off the bus at any of the landmarks. And what will this achieve, anyway?” I looked up at her strangely, as if she should already know the answer…Which she should. “I don’t know, Twi, maybe you should tell us? And quite frankly, with how happy you guys were yesterday, I think it’s been pretty worthwhile already.” Her previous bluster quickly disintegrated. If she thought I was going to let her build the walls around herself again that easily, she would have to think again. “About that: I do need to thank you-” Don’t worry about it, Twi,” I cooed, “We get a little lost someti…” “For helping Pinkie Pie, that is. She was really down, and she needed the support.” “So you were perfectly fine, huh?” Andrew smirked. “You didn't need some support at all?” “Andrew, you aren’t helping.” I growled, but it was too late. Twilight turned and walked for the door which opened with a violet shimmer. “<-Well, I hope you two do know what you’re doing. I won’t risk my friends’ lives, not now, not ever.-> I’ll see you two at breakfast.” And she was gone. I shot up and glared at Andrew. “Dude! We were getting her to open up! Why go and say…stuff…” And then the penny dropped, “Wait, you were talking to her?! Like, with actual words, no brain-tampering?” Andrew deadpanned at me. “You seriously didn't notice me talking until just then? Wow, dude. Wow.” “Shut up, I just woke up to a pony room invasion for the third day in a row…” I grumbled, scratching through my bag for a new change of clothes. Wouldn't want Rarity losing consciousness again over my apparel, would I? As an afterthought, I grabbed Sarah's bag and slung it over my shoulder; I did need to inform Twilight of this. Hell, it might act as a trust-building exercise...or something. Ten minutes later, I strolled out of the room to a very calm scene. Too calm to mean anything good. Five ponies stood around the kitchen counter talking in hushed tones, hypothesizing about what might happen during today’s outing, but they were obviously ignoring the elephant in the room. A purple elephant with wings and a horn, staring out of the window. Twilight’s recalcitrance, I felt, was only understandable. Her actions during this whole episode had come into question, and although I didn't know the whole story, I knew that she must feel at least a little ashamed about it. Only, now that she realized her error, she also found herself unapproachable by those who could help her through it, and was as alone as she had made herself before. I resolved to help her through it, then, if that would help them in achieving their goal. Leaving. It was a bitter surprise to find myself suddenly less enthused by my plan to help them. I pushed past the selfish emotion, and turned to the kitchen. Applejack was once again staring forlornly at the kettle. From its off-canter position on its base, and the cup and jars spread next to it, it was safe to assume that the poor pony had tried making a cup herself. I quickly set up a few cups, and asked what the company would be having. A resounding call for coffee confused me, but I complied. I also set out cups for myself and Andrew, and one more, this one hot chocolate, for Twilight. It didn't take two minutes for me to make and hand out the beverages. With a chorus of thank-you’s, the cups spread out to their respective owners. Rarity levitated two of the cups with ease, and zipped one across the room to Rainbow Dash, who seemed preoccupied with a stare down with her half-furled wings until the steaming cup of energy won her attention. Fluttershy demurely sniffed at her hot cup while Applejack grinned fiendishly at her own like an old accomplice, and Pinkie seemed far more interested in what Andrew was doing talking into the palm of his own hand. “Yeah, I’ll be there to pick it up in about half an hour. Thank you again, for renting it to us on such short notice...Yes, I’ll return it without the modifications...Thank you again, goodbye,” He snapped his phone shut with a flourish and glugged his coffee in one long mouthful before turning to me, “I’m going to get the bus and sort it out an’ all that. I think you might like what I found us.” With an evil grin, he bolted for the door, only pausing to steal a biscuit I had been planning to give to Twilight. Watching the door slam with a sigh, I turned and gathered a new biscuit and set out on my dangerous quest across the lounge. Pinkie saw what I was doing and bounced up next to me, only to stop when she spilled half her coffee all over herself. She sat down behind me, staring in confusion at her coffee-stained coat. “<-I swear I used to be able to NOT do that...->” I heard her mumble, but forged ahead lest my nerve fail me. The moment felt tense and slow. As I crossed the short distance, I felt the eyes of the remaining company drawn to my back as I approached my objective. Two steps left...one... “<-Hey, Twilight! Thought you might like some hot chocolate, you looked stressed.->” I plonked down next to her with as much finesse as a monkey playing a tuba and grinned a brilliantly fake smile in her direction. Receiving no response other than an bemused look, I forged ahead with my plan: “<-Here, have a cookie!->” My brilliance once again underwhelmed me. Luckily, it seemed to do the trick, because Twilight flashed me a brief smile and a nod of thanks, taking the cup and, at length, the biscuit. I curled up around my own coffee, warming my hands as I watched the sunrise next to the troubled Princess. I felt that she would probably want to watch the sun rise in silence, and for some reason, I didn't at all mind watching it with her. It was a brilliant southern morning: the sun rose majestically and slowly banished the clinging mists rolling in off the Atlantic. On the other side of the canal and the buildings lining the opposite bank, the harbour would be teeming with energy and life, the mix of cultures and art enlivening the spirits of those lucky enough to witness it. And I felt not an ounce of will to experience it myself. The sun was fully up, and it was time to complete my task. I looked out of the corner of my eye and carefully regarded Twilight Sparkle. Her features were set as if in stone, holding herself perfectly still as she welcomed the dawn. She sat of her haunches, her tail carefully curled around her, holding her cup at chest level in much the same way I was, warming her hooves on its surface as the biscuit incongruously orbited her head. Her long neck stretched fully brought her head to slightly higher than my own when seated, and her ears stood at rigid attention, the one nearest me flicking ever so slightly in my direction. “You’re watching me again” It had been a while since I’d felt her mind’s echoing touch, but this time it was different: She did not surround my consciousness, or attempt to hold it. It was more as if I were touching her, and her emotions traversed the sensation to my own mind. The next few moments were silent, and I realized she was waiting for me to answer. “You can’t just tell what I’m thinking anymore?” I thought for her to hear (Weird, right?) “No,” She said out loud, “I cannot. I...think you have learnt to resist me, through overexposure.” I smirked to myself. “Well, I’m not going to complain; it’s nice to be safe in my own head again.” I didn't expect to see her flinch at my words, but I saw too late how they must have sounded. “I didn't mean it like that Twi, Its just...” “It’s okay, “She said slowly, like she was measuring the words, “You are right. I think it was necessary at the time, but I also did overdo it, and for that, I owe you an apology. Also, for the whole Language swap thing, I should not have done that...” It sounded stiff, but it was something. And if she was willing to concede some ground, I should be able to do the same. “Heh, I did kinda get a bit angry. It was scary and I may have overreacted once or twice. And the language thing; it all turned out okay in the end, right? We’re getting somewhere now!” I claimed with a victorious smile, “It was just a stressful situation, and tempers flared, but all that...just water under the bridge.” Twilight nodded then looked at me, her searching eyes trying to find an answer in my features. I merely help still, hoping that this latest awkwardness would iron itself out in due course. Luckily it did; “<-Thank you for the hot chocolate and the...cookie->” Twilight bobbed her head with a smile, and nibbled the crunchy biscuit. I could have sworn I heard a small sigh somewhere behind me but I purposefully ignored it. Twilight's attention to detail locked onto the bag draped around shoulders, and brought her out with a question (Note to all: if Twilight is sulking, do something she cannot help but be curious about) "Is that Sarah's bag? The one she carried us in?" I looked down at the bag, pretending that I was noticing it for the first time. "Indeed it is! The food delivery guy said he found it outside the door. Yesterday got a bit busy, but I figured you should know: she's offered us help if we need it, and she's staying within easy distance. so no worries, looks like we have a backup plan after all." Twilight looked decidedly away from me after that, with a grim set to her jaw. "Someone else I owe an apology to...her more than any..." Oh, damn, I'm losing her! Quick, Brain, do something to change the subject! I got up and looked down at Twilight’s enormous questioning eyes. “<-Sorry, but, you know, ponies to feed, trouble to make. Why don’t you join us?->” Good job, brain...for once... Twilight sighed , saying in a voice one might use to explain to a child why they shouldn't touch a stove-top, “<-I already told you, I don’t need to eat anymore. I know how it sounds, but really...->” “I didn't say you had to eat, did I? We mortals may need food to survive, but even immortal alicorn princesses need more than that to actually live.” I gestured to the audience we had: Five sets of eyes covertly...okay, not that covertly peeking at us from the other side of the room (Pinkie had actually gotten hold of the pair of binoculars that used to decorate the counter and was ‘spying’ on us by peeking over the edge of the couch). Twilight nodded woodenly, and rose to walk with me to the kitchen counter. I heard a soft, high-pitched squeak behind me as I entered the kitchen. As I did, I put the bag on the counter. Twilight didn't waste a second in unzipping it and dumping the contents on the table. I was going to seriously reprimand her, but then Rarity just about pounced on the bundle, her light blue aura capturing one of the pieces of fabric. The length rippled out and wrapped itself snugly around her, leaving the unicorn stroking and cooing at the pink scarf. AJ, tough, was even funnier; she may have conquered my hat in lieu of her own, but the second that brown I-can't-believe-it's-not-leather hat landed on the counter, AJ was there. Then she wasn't. I had watched her dive tackle the headwear, and then I got to laugh at her snuggling the thing on the kitchen floor, her mutterings lost in an adorable high-pitched squeak. Could it be? Had I just experienced the first true squee? Ignoring the thought, I glanced confusedly at Twilight, hoping for an explanation. She was busy smiling indulgently as she levitated all of the various little items off to her friends, eliciting more squees and votes of thanks to both of us. Eventually, she looked up at me, saying, "The bag had our things in it to begin with. Thank you for bringing them out." With a nod and a smile, I accepted her thanks and laid out the left over delights from two days ago, ripped out a fresh loaf of bread for toast, and prepared the kettle for its arduous morning’s service. ***** Things seemed to be going really, really well. In fact, they were going so well, that I was getting really, really nervous. Why? Murphy’s Law, of course. To every smile there was a grimace. To every laugh there was a cry, ecstasy to agony and so on. Right now, my excellent morning of pony socializing was being balanced out by the terrible decision made by one certain member of my own species, sitting proudly outside in the parking lot. “Andrew, you better have fitted that hulk of a bus with everything from jet thrusters to portal guns, otherwise I swear upon all that is holy I will slowly rend your...” “Whoa, dude! Relax a minute,” Andrew cut off what was about to develop into a very impressive tirade, “You see ‘old and buggered’, but you get ‘retro and classic’!” He stood next to his new pride and joy, and archaic, dilapidated excuse for a bus, himself dressed in a one-piece green overall and Gatsby cap. “’Classic’ implies desirable,” I intoned, “And what’s with the getup? Are you trying to look like a failed mechanic? Cuz its working.” I nearly laughed at his look of righteous fury. “I’ll have you know that this splendid overall came with the bus! I thought it would help get us into charac-I mean, the mood!” He stomped around to the engine bay door, pulling it open, “And the engine is in great condition, just refurbished recently.” I didn't really care for the mechanics of it. It was a bus, and old one at that. The retro design of small, separate, round-cornered windows and over-all rounded shape easily placed this bus in the pre-eighties style, and it looked completely out of place on the fourth-floor parking bay of the immense white apartment block behind us. Its colouration had obviously been picked for maintenance purposes: Red lower half to cover up the rusty steel and silver top section to hide the corroding aluminium. In between, to my horror, the side windows were covered with thin black plastic sheeting duct-taped to the frames, stopping anyone from looking inside. I walked around the front of the vehicle (if one could call it that), and noticed that, indeed, this particular ‘Leyland Olympic’ was in need of some serious repair. Completing my circuit of the rolling wreck, I returned to a smug-looking Andrew. “You’re and idiot, mate.” I deadpanned. Andrew dropped his smile and went into business mood. “Okay, look, I know you asked for a grand ol’ bus with tinted windows and whatnot, but how was I to find one of those on short notice? Plus I’d have needed a different license to drive it. This is a great and surprisingly enough legal compromise. Just have a look inside, and I promise it won’t seem so bad.” Andrew may have been a goof, but he did normally have his reasons... I turned and walked up into the old wagon. Inside, I was actually pleasantly surprised. The old leatherette seats were in pretty good condition; the ones that were there, of course. Andrew leapt into the space on the rough wooden floor that used to contain the starboard seats (These were missing all the way to the back row) “You see, place for ponies to stand, and the floorboards aren't so smooth that they'd slip! We can’t expect our equine guests to actually sit on the seats all that much, it would be uncomfortable.” “Pinkie sat in a very human like manner yesterday.” I pointed out remembering the position she had assumed; one I would have associated more with a certain mint green unicorn. “She only sat like that so she could stare at the wonders of fluorescent lighting above her,” Andrew droned, “But here, they can walk around, be merry and whatever it is you’re planning on. And before you complain,” Andrew pointed at the black plastic-covered windows, “Check that out!” I was surprised to actually be able to see out of the window quite well. The plastic was so incredibly thin as to be transparent from within the bus, while still blocking any outside eyes. It was...geniusly simple. “Okay, you got me, mate,” I sighed in defeat, “You didn't do half-bad here, but if this thing breaks down, we may have a problem with AA. If they ever turned up in this country...Anyway, time to bring out the ponies!” I turned and began a purposeful march back to the apartment, before Mister Logical interrupted me. “Uh, mate? How’re we gonna do that, exactly?” I stopped dead, eyes only now scanning the thirty metres from the entrance of the building and the bus. On top of that, there were a couple dozen paces of hall to cover to get from to the apartment. Fuck. I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised at Twilight’s reaction to this particular hitch. “<-WHAT?!->” Twilight glared at me with eyes wide with incredulity. “<-I said, I may not have thought through how to get you guys actually ON the bus. It was a... small miscalculation on my part.->” Rainbow Dash sat stock still on the couch (She seemed to have had a serious ‘that’s my spot’ reaction to Pinkie Pie, who now lay motionlessly on her side on the floor, staring up at me.) “<-So...Does this mean we can’t go outside and stuff?->” Applejack walked around the couch slowly, looking up at me with a pleading face that would have melted my heart were it not for the curler stuck in her mane. “<-Ah sure hope ya got a plan here, Marc, cuz Rarity’s gettin’ a mighty case a’ cabin fever!->” Rarity, sitting in the lounge surrounded by fashion-related paraphernalia that she must have pulled out of some unexplored cupboard, glared at Applejack. “<-I am not! I just thought it would be nice for us all to look our best, and your mane would look so much better in a braid!->” “<-I would really like to go outside...->” Fluttershy’s mumble was lost in a growing exchange between Applejack and Rarity which I felt needed intervention. Well, that wasn't right...“<-Applejack, a braid would suit you just fine, but Rarity, there is no logical reason why you would need to use a CURLER for a braid. Now put the stuff away, we’re going pretty soon.->” “<-And how do you plan on doing that, exactly?->” Twilight snarked, stepping in front of me, barely a foot away “<- The way you put it, it’s fifty-odd pony-lengths from here to the bus, in the open. We aren’t exactly inconspicuous around here.->” Bing went my brain, and, as if it was the only logical answer that I had planned from the very beginning, I blurted out, “You’re going to do a light-bending spell around you all and I’ll lead you out. No problem.->” “<-I...->” That was the moment when Twilight’s ‘WTF’ face overtook her ‘curious’ face in epic cuteness levels. “<-I could do that...it isn’t even a high-energy spell, so it wouldn’t take long to recharge...How did you know that?! Humans don’t even USE magic!->” Twilight arched back looking straight at me from a much more comfortable distance. Her confused (And therefore, being Twilight, angry) face was still terrifying. And now was the time for my brilliant intuition to kick in and save me from more Angry Twilight Repercussions: C’mon... “D’uh?” Twilight heckled. A few sparks seemed to play in the depths of her mane, making this sweet buzzing sound, matched by her impossibly cheery smile. “<-Of course, you’re right...somehow...I’ll do the spell while you help my friends get ready!->” This was disturbing. She was grinning. Not a good grin. And this is why, a while later, Andrew walked in on a very embarrassed me sitting behind a somewhat nervous Applejack, dutifully plaiting away. His reaction was as expected. “BwuHAHAHA! Pony makeover date! Marc, you fuckin’ brilliant git!” Once Andrew’s outburst finally reduced him to catatonic mirth on the floor, I replied, tying off the final twist in the complicated braid I had managed to eke out of my now red fingers and into every inch of Applejacks mane and tail. “It was this, or combing Pinkie’s hair. And don’t piss off Twilight today.” I patted AJ on the shoulder, “<-There ya go, all done. Gotta say, your mane is a lot tougher than I thought, despite looking...somewhat softer...->” It took me a minute to remember I was talking to an orange pony who just so happened to have damn amazing blonde hair. On the other hand, it was probably wise to compliment her, considering that she could buck me into lifelong chastity from where she was currently standing. She shook herself and walked in a small circle around the coffee table, inspecting the tightly woven strands of her silky flaxen hair...Mane and tail. Then she looked up with a smile and a nod of approval. “<-That there’s one a’ the finest darn braids Ah’ve ever had! Where’d ya learn ta do that?”->” I couldn’t help but chuckle nervously. Andrew paced around for a second, looking from room to room, before returning with a question: “Yeah, enough horse-talk, where are the others? There were six ponies here when I left.” I didn’t need to answer, for at that exact moment, a small ripple in the air moved from a position on the counter, through a well-scribed arch, to land atop Andrew’s shoulders with a cry; “<-AndrewyoucamebackdoyouremembermeI’mPinkiePieandMarcsaidyouwerecomingbackbutIgotworried...->” A flash later and Andrew and I were alone in the apartment, save for six heat shimmers, one of which WOULD NOT SHUT UP. I looked at the shimmer sitting next to me on the couch and asked, “<-Care to explain this?->”. The imprint next to me shuffled slightly. “<-Well, um...The magic fueling the spell is also...fueling Pinkie. Ponies are magical creatures, Marc,” Twilight’s disembodied voice started in lecture mode, “We need magic to operate. But your world is...somewhat lacking in this regard.->” My brow furrowed in thought, tuning out the incessant babble that Andrew was trying to unwrap from his head. “<-Wait, you mean that if you don’t have a source of magic, it’s like..not getting a meal or something?->” “More like not getting water,” Twilight answered in English. Whatever she was going to say next, she wanted to keep it private, “Ponies use magic as raw energy. If they lack it, they fade away. I haven’t been letting that happen. After all, I am... kind of the Princess of Magic and all...” Now THAT explained a lot. Wow... “So you've been feeding them the whole time? Secretly? How do you even do that?” An invisible shrug made itself felt (I missed a ponyshrug...damn) “I don’t know why, exactly, but I feel magic here, even though I know the leylines I am used to should be far away, but I think...My theory is...” “Friendship is Magic” Twilight’s illusion fell away, unmasking her surprised face. It turned curious as she asked simply, “How?” I looked her in the eye. “Logic, this time. You guys all have more energy when you’re friendly. And you’re drawing on Love. Love your friends have for you.” “Like a Changeling” “Andrew, shut the hell up-“ “He’s right” I stared at Twilight, who shrugged again. “It is almost like that, but more passive. I should have known it all along, but...I forgot, for a little while, how powerful friendship really is.” And with that, she threw up her illusion again. I held back my dozens of questions and stuck to what was important...this was too much to think about...I heard a rain of chatter arc through the air as Andrew finally pushed Pinkie away from his face, and queried it; “So you guys all have more energy now? As long as Pinkie is under the illusion spell, she’s gone full Pinkie?” Twilight laughed a little at my assumption. “Ha, please, full Pinkie would be a disaster! I’d never let her go full Pinkie, I’d let her have maybe seventy-five percent Pinkie at best, just to keep the roof on. Ponyville was just about rebuilt with Pinkie Pie in mind after a while. <-Your world,” She revealed just her head to me, just so I could appreciate her wink, “could never handle our total combined awesomeness->” “<-Awwww yeah! You go Twilight!->” Rainbow Dash crowed from somewhere near the end of the couch. “<-Okay, let’s get going before it gets busy outside->” I said, unable to keep myself from laughing. I made for the door. Twilight was feeding off of and sustaining her friends at the same time...that’s some twisted shit... “Okay...” I looked felt and right down the hall, before moving out into the hallway towards the pair of heavy glass security doors at the entrance, followed by the invisible silent ponies. Except Pinkie. I turned and attempted to hush her, but I didn't know exactly which shimmer to hush. Instead, I kept a vigil on the empty corridors and swiped my tag across the magstrip at the door. It opened and we all filed through. To any onlookers, it must have looked hilarious. Me walking nonchalantly through the door, eliciting a beep from the machinery, which was then immediately followed by another...and then five more, despite the fact that there was no visible patrons in my wake. Andrew dashed out last, ran to the bus and kicked it into starting. The loud diesel growl brought forth a gasp behind me, but I ignored it, noticing two other people entering their vehicles a ways up the parking lot. They may have been a good hundred paces off, but unfortunately, high pitched squeaking carries, even when muffled. A part of me wanted to be really annoyed at Pinkie Pie right then, but I also knew that if anything, she needed it. And so I stood there, jaws pumping so as to make it appear that Pinkie's near-the-limit-of-audible-range babble was the product of my own voice. Can you imagine: A crazy ragged-looking dude squeaking inhumanly by the bus’s door as six heat-shimmers floated quietly into the vehicle. The other people quickly vacated the parking lot. Shortly after, I jumped in and slammed the black plastic-coated aperture shut on my shame and turned to find a Gatsby hat nearly shoved up my nose by Andrew. He held the old piece of fabric out at me with a sobre expression, and I took it with equal reverence. Shoving the hat firmly on my head, I turned and looked over the materializing ponies, who stared, aghast, out of the ‘tinted’ windows of our tour bus. “Welcome to the Pyrefell-Werner Multi-species Bus Tour! If you can understand me, and preferably can respond, then you’re welcome to join. Busdriver, take it away!” “PONY ROAD TRIP!!” Andrew shouted as he whacked the bus into gear and stamped on the accelerator... ...Causing everypony to fall over with a cry. This was going to be hilarious.