Second Chances- Part Two
"Wow, this ice cream is so good!" Tossels declared, as he quickly devoured the first food he had eaten in days. "You two ponies are really nice!"
After having finally calmed their human guest down, Fizzy and Mimic had discovered that the boy was extremely hungry after days of being on the run. After having sat at the counter and partaking of his fill of soda and butterscotch ice cream, the two mares had decided to get see if they could get some answers.
"Now, young man," Mimic asked, sitting down beside him at the counter. "could you please tell us who was chasing you, and why they want to kill you?"
"I'm sorry; I kinda guess I should tell you what going on." The blue-eyed teenager replied sheepishly. "As I said before, my name is Tossels, and I was an apprentice toymaker from Manehatten."
"The human city, built on the old equestrian town." Fizzy added, sitting down on the other side of Tossles. "But what are you doing way out here, then?"
"I angered the wrong people in my community, I'm afraid." The youth shook his head. "I accepted an order from a elf nobleman, for a toy doll for his daughter. The master toymaker was away, and I thought I could take on the order myself."
"But you couldn't, could you?" mimic asked, realizing where this was going if the elves were involved.
"T-there was a flaw in the eyes… they wouldn't open and close when the doll was picked up and laid down." Tossels buried his head in his hands. "It ruined his little girl's birthday, a-and he put a really high price on my head. Every bounty hunter in Ponyland is after my head now."
"Wait a sec now, you mean to tell me that somebody is trying to kill you over a bad toy?" The blue unicorn replied incredulously. "That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard!"
"Fizzy, you have no idea how petty and cruel Ponyland's elves can be." Mimic replied, putting a hood on the now- crying Tossels's shoulder. "I've heard stories of cobblers strung up by their heels over shoes they made that were two sizes too tight, or eleven hunting parties who bag humans for sport."
"What?! That's-that's horrible!" Fizzy began stroking the sobbing boy's hair sympathetically. "Why, you poor dear! How could anyone be cruel enough to do something like that to you?"
"I've been running from goblin mercenaries for two weeks. I only got away from those animals by running into the mastificent forest" He slammed his fist down on the counter. "If you ponies hadn't taken me in, I'd probably have starved to death."
"Please, let us know if there's anything we can do." Fizzy suggested hopefully. "Maybe we could talk to the noble, and-"
"A total waste of your time, Fizz, trust me." The other unicorn replied, levitating a handkerchief over for the weeping Tossels. "The best thing we can do is help our guest get away."
"It's not fair! All I ever wanted to do was make toys, so I could make people happy!" Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a stuffed brown teddy bear, staring at it. "Ever since I was a child, I saw how much joy toys brought to little kids when they played with them… and their parents, when they saw their children smile." He hugged the stuffed animal tightly. "And now, I'll never get the chance to use my special talents to make people happy."
"Awww, I think that teddy bear is adorable!" Fizzy smiled, nuzzling the bear. "I wish I had a teddy like that!"
"Here Fizzy, you can have this." He handed her the bear, smiling through tear-stained eyes. "This might be the last toy I ever make, and I want it to go to someone who will appreciate it."
"Really? Wow, thanks Tossles!" She levitated the bear to herself, hugging it tightly. "I'll take real good care of it, I promise!"
"Least I could do, for the ponies that helped me out." He sighed. "I just wish… I could have a second chance, you know? A clean slate to start over and work as a toymaker… but that'll never happen." He looked towards the door. "I need to get out of here soon, or there could be trouble if they find me here!"
"Oh don't worry, we're not afraid of any bounty hunters or elves." Mimic exclaimed, motioning her head for Fizzy to get him another drink. "Still, it may be best for you if you be on your way."
"We're really glad we were able to help you though." Fizzy replied, pouring the bubbling liquid from the vial North Star had left there into the root beer float she had mixed him without thinking. "Here's a final soda for the road."
"Thank you, Miss Fizzy. I shall never forget your kindness." Downing the whole concoction in one gulp. Getting up, he ran towards the door, before stopping and grabbing his head. "Ohhhh, I don't feel so well… ugh, goodbye, you two, and thanks again!" He stumbled out the door, holding his head and stomach. "Ohhhhhh…."
"What a nice boy, I hope he'll be all right." Mimic smiled, looking out the door after him. After having a few more sodas, the unicorn finally stood up. "Whelp, Queen Majesty's having a council meeting tomorrow, and I'll need to be fully awake to argue with Truly." She yawned, stretching her hooves, and then looked around. "Fizzy, where did you put that potion of North Star's?"
Fizzy looked around, and suddenly saw the empty vial. "Uh oh…." She replied, her eyes going wide. "I think I really boo-booed this time…"
…
"Hey girls, you're not going to believe this!" Lickety Split exclaimed, running into the Satin Slipper carrying a box and a newspaper in her saddlebag. "Sundance just told me some really cool news!"
It had been two months since Fizzy and Mimic had accidentally gave the alicorn's tears to a human refugee, and had failed to find him after he had left. Mimic had gotten the two of them out of trouble with her connections on the council, but Fizzy was still keeping her head low and staying quiet while on the job.
"What is it, Lickety?" Scoops asked the other earth mare, as she punched in on her time card.
"Well, it seems there's this awesome new toymaker in Misty Mountain, and he makes the cutest stuffed animals in all of Ponyland." She held up the newspaper, with a picture of a pink pony with a turquoise mane and a cutie mark with two teddy bears on it. "He just started a line of stuffed ponies, and you won't believe what the first pony in his line is!"
Taking the box out of her bag, she opened it to reveal a stuffed blue and jewel eyed unicorn pony, with a soda cutie mark.
"Why, it looks just like you, Fizzy!" Scoops said in shock, as the ditzy unicorn's eyes went wide.
"It says this design was inspired by Dream Valley, and the pony that brought a wonderful change into the designer's life, and gave him a second chance." Lickety Split read from the newspaper. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this would you, Fizzy?" She waited for a minute, and then looked back when no response came. "Uhhh, Fizzy?"
"I-I-I-" The mare stared at them for a few moments, eye twitching. "Eeeeeee….aahhhhhh..olllp!" Her jewel eyes rolled back into her head, and she promptly passed out on the floor of the Satin Slipper.