First Day of Duty
Dear Bluebell of Canterlot,
We are happy to inform you that your application for the foreign workers exchange program has been approved. You are scheduled to appear at the hall of immigration by 6 pm on the 3rd day of the 14th month. Enclosed are the appropriate tickets and directions for your journey.
Congratulations, and we look forward to having you in our city!
Signed, The Grand Master of the Universe.
“Oh Bluebell honey, this is wonderful! I’m so proud of you.”
Bluebells mother, Bluebonnet, hugged her daughter after reading her acceptance letter aloud to the family. Bluebell had signed up for a special exchange program a week ago on a whim, not really expecting to be accepted. Her “friends” had goaded her into it, claiming that she wasn’t brave enough to leave her home and security blanket. But she showed them. She showed them good by writing her name on the application without even reading it.
“Bluebell, I’m happy that you’re finally going out into the world. I’m sure this will be a great experience for you.” Said Bluebells father.
“Thanks dad, I wont let you down.” Bluebell said to her father. He had always been encouraging her to go out and try new things, and she was happy to see him approve of her upcoming trip. But why was he wearing a sailor’s outfit?
Bluebell looked over to her brother, who was still sitting at the kitchen table eating a washcloth.
“I hope you know what you’re getting into”. Donner said. “Its dangerous out there, what with all of the clawed butterflies roaming about. They’re likely to take your head off!”
Bluebell had no idea what her brother was raving about. She figured he was just jealous that she got to go to the other side of the continent and he was stuck at home.
“There’s only one more thing to do darling”. Bluebonnet said to her daughter. “Stay put here and well be right back with a surprise.”
Before Bluebell could utter a word to question what they were doing, her family had run out of the room and lock her inside. She just stood still for a while, in the middle of her kitchen. She had no idea what was going on, her family were acting very weird all of the sudden. Not only that, but her mother had left the popsicles she was baking in the oven, they were likely to burn now!
Suddenly, Bluebell heard a noise. It was a creeping sound, like hoofs walking carefully across a tile floor. But there was no one else in the kitchen, it was just her, the oven, and the giant balloon man in the corner. Then Bluebell felt it, the prickling of needled along her back. Bluebell couldn’t move to look what was behind her, she was frozen in place by fear.
“Who’s there?” The little unicorn asked. Though she already knew the answer.
“It’s Sequoia”. A voice called out from behind. “Who else would it be?”
Bluebell felt cold tendrils start to wrap around her body, binding her in place. She tried to scream for help but a large black claw clamped over her mouth.
“Its alright”. Sequoia whispered into her ear. “Once I take your brain out, you wont be afraid of anything ever again. Won’t that be great?”
Bluebell screamed into the suffocating claw as a piercing shriek of agony filled her ear.
Beeeeeeeep!
Bluebell was ripped out of her dream by the high-pitched beeping of the alarm clock next to her bed. Realizing the previous threat of cranial intrusion was just a dream, she attempted to get up and shut off the alarm. She found getting out of bed difficult, as she had somehow entangled herself in her bed sheets to where it was starting to constrict her breathing. After escaping from her cotton menace, she put on her glasses and looked at the clock.
4:30 am.
That couldn’t be right, thought Bluebell, there was no way Skytop set her clock to 4:30 in the morning, not unless he was pulling a cruel prank. She was just about to let her head hit the pillow again, when 3 steady nocks came from the door.
“Hold on, I’ll be right there.”
Bluebell rolled out of bed like a sack of potatoes, and slowly crawled her way to the front door. She opened the wooden door and looked to see a green bat pony looking down at her.
“Hey Pathfinder, good morning. What time is it, my clock says 4:30 but that cant be correct if you are up.”
“Your clock is not wrong”. Said pathfinder in an even monotone. “Our team is scheduled to be active from 5 am to 4 pm for this week. I’m here to bring you to the barracks. Are you ready to go?”
Bluebell gave a dull groan in disappointment. Getting up at 4:30 every morning did not sit well with her, she did not sign up for this. Though to be fair she didn’t quite know what she signed up for. Well, there was nothing she could do about it now.
“Let me just brush my hair first, then we can go.”
After realizing she had forgot to bring a hair brush as well as a toothbrush, they made their way to work.
The trip to the barracks with Pathfinder was far less engaging than when Bluebell had walked with Skytop. Pathfinder never tried to engage in conversation or even look at Bluebell. Sequoia may have been scary, but Bluebell felt weary around Pathfinder for a totally different reason.
The streets were not nearly as crowded as they had been the previous day. There were still a healthy number of folks milling about and conducting business, but they were all bat ponies, and not the diverse quagmire of creatures she had seen previously. Although this did give her an opportunity to more easily study their physical features. She had been told that bat ponies were basically Pegasus’ with bat wings instead of bird wings, but this was clearly not the case.
From what Bluebell had seen, Bad ponies stood rather tall compared to other ponies, (especially compared to Bluebell), and had slimmer builds as well. They also had relatively large, pointed ears, which had fur that flared out on their edges and points. But the most noticeable difference between bat ponies and other kinds, was their eyes. Bat ponies had slit shaped pupils, much like a cat. Their eye shape was still a little freaky to bluebell, but she was quickly getting used to it.
They arrived at the barracks in short order. Rather than going to the lounge like yesterday, Pathfinder instead lead Bluebell to the barracks dressing room. The whole team was already there and in the process of rigging themselves with their armor. Which is when Bluebell noticed something, mares and stallions shared the same locker room! Bluebell didn’t know why this bothered her, but it just didn’t sit well.
“Hey there Bluebell, how is your morning so far?”
Bluebell winced at Windcaller’s loud greeting voice and she was starting to miss Pathfinders dull yet quiet wake up call. She hoped the rest of them weren’t so energetic.
“I’m fine, thanks. Does anyone here have a brush I can borrow?”
Bluebell heard chuckles from around the room. She hadn’t looked in the mirror, but she could guess at the state of her mane.
“Sorry for laughing Bluebell”. Said Flintfeather. “I’m sure Sequoia has you covered, right Meadow?” Flintfeather nodded at the tall changeling.
Sequoia looked at Bluebell, then back at Flintfeather.
“Ok”. She said apprehensively.
Bluebell tensed as Sequoia walked towards her. She couldn’t help it, really, as while Sequoia stood a bit taller than her peers, compared to Bluebell she was a towering obsidian monolith of a creature. Last nights dream hadn’t helped either.
“Just keep your head strait and look forward, I promise I’ll be careful”. Sequoia stepped behind the blue unicorn and began to work on her messy mane.
“Flintfeather, I think everyone is just about ready, should I get the stuff for the thing?” Skytop asked Flintfeather.
The sachem looked around the room. Everyone had donned their armor, and Sequoia was just about done with Bluebells mane. She nodded to Skytop, who nodded back and quickly trotted out of the room.
“I think that looks good enough, sorry I don’t have a mirror.”
Bluebell looked up to see Sequoia smiling down on her holding a comb in he left hoof. Only, her hoof wasn’t holding a comb, it was the comb. Sequoia’s hoof had formed a comb like protrusion, with a multitude of even spines fanning out in a row from it. Sequoia noticed Bluebells fixation on her morphology, and with a look of embarrassment, quickly reshaped her hoof and brought it back to the ground. Bluebell looked away and shivered at the thought of feeling Sequoia’s claws running through her hair.
Bluebell”, called Flintfeather from the middle of the room, “Stand up before me, we need to talk.”
Bluebell thought she had done something wring. But as she walked up to the yellow mare, her smile eased Bluebells fears.
“Bluebell, daughter of Canterlot, are you ready to become one of us?”
Bluebell looked around the room. All of the guards had formed a circle around the blue unicorn, all fully fitted with armor, and holding their helmets down on the floor with their left hoof. They all looked at her, waiting. At this point, there was really only one answer to give.
“Yes.”
“Do you swear to uphold the law, and to protect the great city of Manasazi and all of her children?”
Again, only one answer.
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you swear to that you will support this team and its members, just as they swear to support you?”
“Yes.”
“And do you swear, Bluebell of Canterlot.” Flintfeather’s voice suddenly became low and serious. “That you will never abuse your power in any way, and that you would sooner throw yourself into the maw of a volcano, then submit to the corruption of anger, fear, and evil?”
Bluebell was starting to get freaked out by Flintfeather’s sudden shift in tone. But she was still determined to face this challenge.
“I swear.”
Flintfeather smiled, then turned and nodded to Skytop.
“Then as a sachem of Manasazi, I hereby bestow upon you, Bluebell daughter of Canterlot, the title of Koa.”
Bluebell started to tear up as Skytop fastened a red sash around her body.
“This is your uniform, a symbol of your status as a counter of Manasazi. It is to be worn when, and only when, you are active in your duties.”
Bluebell was clearly crying as she stood before her new friends. She had never felt so much pride or accomplishment than she did right at that moment. She saw Skytop was offering her a large, thickly bound book.
“This is an official ledger of the Manasazi city guard. With this, you will ink, etch, stab, and carve the accounts of our deeds, whatever they might be.”
Bluebell took the ledger, and placed it within a pouch woven within her new sash. She then looked back up at her sachem.
“Is there anything you wish to say, Bluebell?” Asked Flintfeather.
“Thank you, thank you all. I promise that I wont let you down!”
Flintfeather smiled at the new recruit. They were all smiling, even Pathfinder.
“Then let us go forth, together, and serve our mother.”
Bluebell was practically hopping as she walked with her new team. She felt light and giddy, and had never been happier to be accepted by a group of ponies, even if she had only known them for less than 24 hours. Her euphoria was not lost on the others.
“Someone sure looks happy this morning”. Said Windcaller as she watched the prancing unicorn. “What’s got you smiling so much Bluebell? You didn’t get into the vault of confiscated substances did you?”
“I’m just so happy to finally be able to do something with my life.” Cheered Bluebell. “I’ve never been apart of anything before, let alone a member of a royal guard!”
“Were not royal guard Bluebell, were city guard.” Corrected Flintfeather.
Bluebell stopped her hopping and resumed a normal walk.
“Is there a difference? In Canterlot we just have a royal guard.”
“There’s quite a big difference”. Started Sequoia. “In the Manasazi kingdom, each town has its own force of city guards, or koa’s as they are formally called. Each city divides its koas into separate teams, each led by a sachem. Flintfeather here is our sachem. It’s the job of the koa to protect their city and its citizens.”
“I don’t quite understand”. Said Bluebell. “Do you not have a royal guard?”
“We do”. Said the sachem. “But they are different, their job is to protect the princess, as well as some more… unsavory duties.”
Bluebell had no idea that there were two branches of military in Manasazi. She assumed that it was like Canterlot, where the royal guard acted as the protector of the city and the princess.
“Well I’m still happy to be a city guard.”
They followed the main road out of the city. They were scheduled for something called “cargo inspection” down at the city docks. Bluebell was still left in the dark on most of the city guards duties, but she was willing to help in any way she could.
The docks were located a few miles away from the city, connected by a long, asphalt road. While not a strenuous trek by any means, the trip was not easy on Bluebells short legs.
“I assume you guys normally fly there?” Asked the tiring unicorn. Flintfeather looked back.
“Yes, but its alright, the boats wont come in till 6 O’clock so we have plenty of time.
“Well that’s good I guess.”
Sequoia watched the poor blue pony’s lagging gait and started to feel sorry for the little counter. She sidled up to her sachem and spoke to her in a low voice.
“Maybe we should have brought a cart, I don’t think the new girl is in the best of shape.”
Flintfeather knew what Meadwspring was talking about and was quite aware of Bluebells predicament.
“I Know what you mean, but I doubt it would look good on our record if we used government property for just one pony.”
“I think it will look just as bad if her little legs give out in the middle of a busy street.”
Flintfeather looked behind her to see the gap between the main group and bluebell had widened considerably since she last looked. At this rate they were likely to be late to their post. But she would deal with that problem when it arose. She looked back at Sequoia.
“Your welcome to carry her.”
Sequoia gave her sachem an annoyed look. She wasn’t sure if Flintfeather was being serious, or if she was just messing with her. If so, she decided to call her bluff.
“All right, I’ll see what I can do.”
Sequoia slowed down until she was parallel to Bluebell. She looked so pitiful and weak, her heavy breathing, and labored pace. The Canterlot raised unicorn was clearly not used to prolonged physical activity.
“Hey there Bluebell, how are you doing?”
Bluebell looked up with a start. She hadn’t seen Sequoia walk up to her, she was too distracted by her burning muscles complaining to her to stop punishing them. Bluebell looked forward to see the rest of the team were almost 50 feet ahead of them, leaving her and the changeling alone together. She did not like the situation she was in.
“I’m d-doing alright Sequoia, I’m doing alright.” Bluebell said nervously. There were other creatures on the road, but she still felt endangered without Flintfeather or Skytop there to protect her from the changeling.
“Are you sure your alright, you look kind of tired there.” Said Sequoia. “You know we can stop and let the others go ahead until your ready to continue.”
Bluebell did not like the sound of that.
“I’m not tired, really! I feel energetic and rested. You don’t need to fret over me, honest!”
Sequoia wasn’t buying the unicorns claims one bit.
“Are you sure? Because I can- “
“No I’m quire alright, thank you!” Exclaimed Bluebell as she quickly trotted ahead tot the rest of the party. Her legs screamed at her to slow down, but Bluebell was far to worried about the potentially brain-eating Sequoia to listen to her aching muscles.
When the finally reached the Manasazi city docks, Bluebell felt ready to feint. Every fiber and thread in her body was begging her to just drop where she stood and lay motionless for the rest of the day, but Bluebell was too honor bound to her new team to listen, at least not today. She lurched over to the nearest crate, and leaned on it for support.
As Bluebell stood there, pretending to not be winded, she looked around at the surrounding docks. Compared to the city, the docks looked relatively normal. Besides the few shops and warehouses, the docks were just a collection of piers and boasts, with numerous merchants and sailors going about their business. The boats were interesting, as no two looked quite the same. They all looked like they were from different parts of the world, with wildly different hull and sail shapes among them.
“Well someone is late. What happened, did one of you not wake up on time?”
Bluebell looked up to see a rather official looking earth pony approach them. He was wearing a red colored sash much like the one Bluebell was issued, though his was far more ornate. Immediately her heart sank. She knew it was her lack of physical prowess that slowed down the group. She braced herself for the inevitable scolding.
“I apologize high counter Tall Oak”. Said Flintfeather to the earth pony.
Here it comes.
“I had misplaced my helmet and it took time for me to find it. It wont happen again.”
Bluebell was taken by surprise. She didn’t expect a military officer to lie on her behalf. She would make sure not to let Flintfeather down again.
“All right then. You are to go to dock eight. There’s a vessel from Zebrawanda waiting there ready to unload a shipment of tea leves. Just be on your guard, they seem a bit… sketchy”.
Flintfeather nodded to the high counter, then turned to her team.
“Well you heard him, off to dock eight. Skytop, your on speaking duty, Windcaller, healp Bluebell with learn the book. Sequoia and Pathfinder, get going on cargo”.
The boat at dock eight was an unimpressive specimen compared to the other vessels docked around it. It was a crooked thing, full of boarded breaches and patched sails. Waiting by the gangplank was a group of two zebras, a donkey, and a water buffalo.
Skytop took his helmet off and walked before the sailors. He then greeted them in a zebra language, which started a dialogue between him and the zebra captain. As they conversed, Bluebell approached Flintfeather.
“Thanks searg- I mean sachem Flintfeather, for covering for me.”
The sachem gave her new counter a smile.
“It was no real problem Bluebell. As long as you do your best, I’ll protect you from quill eaters like Tall Oak. Besides, I’m sure we’ll toughen you up in short order.”
Bluebell felt very lucky to have Flintfeather as a leader.
Raised voices were suddenly heard from down the dock. The noise was coming from Skytop and the zebra captain. They were arguing over something, but their language was unknown to the other koas.
“Whets this about now.”
Flintfeather went to investigate the ruckus. Sequoia and Pathfinder flanked their sachem to protect her just in case things got ugly. Bluebell made a move to follow the trio, but a hoof on her back held her at bay.
“Whoa, hold on there lass, don’t get to curious now.” Said a concerned Windcaller.
“Is there something wrong?”
Wincaller eyed the argument breaking out by the gangplank.
“Lets just say that when two very different cultures meet, words can be exchanged, or punches.”
Bluebell didn’t like the sound of punches, and leaned in closer to Windcaller.
Flintfeather marched up to Skytop, and called his attention.
“Ok Skytop, whats the problem?”
Skytop halted his argument with the foreighn capatain, and stepped close to his sachem.
“Captain Shakka is concerned that we might damage his cargo and wishes we not inspect it.” He said softly.
Flintfeather gave an angry glare.
“You can tell captain Shakka that he can bite a rock. I’m not letting him unload his cargo without us checking it first.”
“That’s what I ssaid! Well, not in so many words, but I told him he had to let us check his stuff before he could unload it on shore.”
Flintfeather looked past Skytop to see the foreign crew whispering amongst themselves. From their demeanor, their unwillingness to cooperate and the condition of their “ship”, she could see why Tall Oak had called them “sketchy”. She looked back at Skytop.
“Put your helmet on and tell them this; either let us check their cargo, or I’ll have them escorted out of the bay by two frigates.”
Skytop nodded, then re donned his helmet. Sequoia and Pathfinder readied themselves as Skytop turned to relay his boss’ message. The zebra captain looked furious and seemed ready to take up the deportation offer. But he finally conceded, and ordered his crew to start bringing crates to the dock for inspection.
Flintfeather gave a sigh of relief. She hated it when she had to stomp the earth to get someone to obey the law. She then turned around to look at Windcaller.
“Windcaller, fly up and keep an eye on the area. I don’t like the looks of this.”
Windcaller flew into the air and began to circle the boat. Flintfeather walked up to Bluebell.
“It’s time for you to learn what your job is on the team. Are you ready?”
“I sure am sachem.” Said Bluebell enthusiastically.
“Good.” Flintfeather took Bluebells ledger out of her sash and opened it to the front page. “So here’s the deal. One of our duties as koas of the Manasazi city guard is acting as customs officials. It’s our job today to inspect each crate that comes out of that wreck of a boat and check it for contraband. Your job is to write down any and all information regarding the inspection within the charts in the ledger.” She pointed to the rows and columns on the facing page of the book. “Now these have to be written in Manasazi, so I’ll have Skytop help you translate until you get the hang of it. You got all that?”
Bluebell was too excited about starting her to answer in any coherent way. All she did was give an enthusiastic cheer, and took back the book.
“Good, I’ll send Skytop over. Assuming there wont be any more incidents.”
The inspection was going achingly slowly. The sailors were only bringing out one box at a time for them to inspect, and would only get the next one once the previous crate had been passed. The captain claimed to Skytop that they didn’t want to risk stacking the crates; in fear one might fall and damage the contents. The sailor’s suspicious behavior and speech only drove the koas to be extra cautious in their inspections.
Flintfeather observed Sequoia and Pathfinder searching of the crates. They opened each wooden box that was passed to them, looked inside, and shuffled through the contents. Once they were satisfied with what they saw, they re-locked the crate, and then carried it over to a cart. They made a good team for things like this. Sequoia could shape her malleable hooves to search in crevices other ponies could not, and Pathfinder… Pathfinder had a knack for sensing when things didn’t add up.
Sequoia motioned for her sachem to come over. Flintfeather hoped she had turned something up.
“Talk to me Sequoia, what did you find?”
Sequoia looked back at the loitering sailors, making sure they weren’t listening in, then addressed Flintfeather.
“Pathfinder and I think there’s something the sailors are trying to hide from us. We keep finding out weird things about the boxes.”
This caught Flintfeathers attention.
“What do you mean ‘weird’?”
Sequoia opened the crate they were currently looking over and reached inside.
“Look at this.” She said as she pulled out a claw full of dried up plant matter. The sachem looked at the mass closely.
“Tea leaves?”
“Yes, but the’re not in bags or packets, they’re just dumped in here like mulch, and these boxes aren’t even a third of the way filled. These crates aren’t very big, you would think a merchant would want to cram as much cargo as possible.”
Flintfeather didn’t like the looks of this. Tea leaves were often used to hide the scent of illegal and dangerous plants like fire pollen and poison joke.
“So you think they might be smuggling something organic?”
Sequoia poured the leaves back in the box.
“That’s the thing, there’s nothing else in these crates, its just loose moldy tea leaves.” Sequoia stirred the ground up leaves with her hoof to emphasize her point. “But there’s something else, look here.” She then ran a hoof along the crate where two planks of wood met. Looking closely, Flintfeather could see a sappy residue seeping from the joint.
“Is that an adhesive, on a box held together with nails?”
“Weird, I know.” Said Sequoia as she closed back up the crate. “Why would a wooden crate with nails already hammered into it need glue to stay together? Especially if its holding tea leaves, something that might have its taste ruined by any of the glue leaking into it.”
This was looking bad. Flintfeather was hoping Bluebells first day on the job wouldn’t involve an arrest, but circumstances were wishing otherwise. She looked at Pathfinder.
“What’s your take on this Pathfinder, are you sensing anything?”
The green stallion ran his hoof along the surface of the box, as if trying to feel for its secrets.
“I don’t think the cargo is of any concern, but the crates themselves. I suggest we prepare for an incident, I want Sequoia to try something.”
Flintfeather nodded in agreement.
“Alright you two, I’m going to set things up. Wait for my signal before you do anything.”
Sequoia and Pathfinder nodded before the sachem went over to Bluebell and Skytop. Skytop was currently in the process of showing bluebell he ropes of filling out a counter’s ledger. Or at least he was supposed to.
“So after I pulled all of those children out of the burning schoolhouse, I then put out the fire by-“
“How are things over here, making progress I hope?” Said Flintfeather, interrupting Skytop’s tall tales. Skytop looked embarrassed at being caught by his boss.
“Oh, I was just… Instructing Bluebell here on the many heroic deeds we are expected to perform while on duty. Yea… that’s what I was doing.”
Flintfeather was not impressed. Skytop was never good at coming up with convincing lies. Flintfeather looked down at bluebell.
“How are you doing Bluebell?”
“I think I’m getting the hang of these charts.” She said with a smile. “But I think it will be a while before I no longer need a translator for all of this.”
Flintfeather smiled in approval. She was happy to have someone as dedicated to learning as Bluebell on the team. It was too bad, then, that her first job might be cut short.
“I’m glad to hear it, but you might want to hold your pen for a second.”
Bluebell stopped her writing.
“What’s going on, is there something wrong?”
Flintfeather hated the situation more and more, and Bluebells worry stricken face wasn’t helping. She put a hoof on Bluebells shoulder.
“Don’t worry Bluebell, nothings going to happen to you, I’ll make sure of it.” She then turned to Skytop. “I need you to stand by Sequoia and Pathfinder just in case this whole thing takes a dive. I have a feeling I’ll need you to translate an arrest. Now where’s Windcaller?”
Flintfeather looked around for Windcaller, then spotted the mare walking along one of the masts on the zebra ship.
“Windcaller, come down here I need you to get us some drinks.” Flintfeather yelled up into the air. Windcaller heard her sachem, and quickly dove down to meet her.
“What do you need boss, did they find something?” She said in a hushed tone.
“Not yet.” Said Flintfeather. “But they might. I need you to disappear and be ready in case they do. I have a feeling these guys might be runners.”
“Six lemonades? Aye, I can get that for ye boss!” Windcaller exclaimed loudly. She then dashed out of sight, disappearing within the cargo cluttered docks.
Bluebell was growing confused and worried. What was happening? Was she in danger? Why was Windcaller getting lemonades?
“Should I do anything?” She said with an edge of fear in her voice.
“Yes, Stay close.” Flintfeather sidled up to Bluebell and put her left hoof in front of the counters in protection. Bluebell then felt a wing reach over her back and hug her close to the armored mare.
“Sequoia, Pathfinder.” Flintfeather called out. “Continue your search.”
Sequoia received her sachems command, and proceeded with Pathfinders plan. She looked down on the wooden box and found a small nail peeking slightly out of its socket. She put her hoof to it, and then morphed it into the shape of a small crowbar. She then hooked her limb under the head of the nail and began to rock it out of its hold. As she extracted the nail, Sequoia could already see slivers of gold showing through its chromed exterior. The sailor watched in horror as she held the nail up in the air for all to see.
“Golden nails, electroplated to look like normal iron nails. I have to say this is a new one. Most creatures smuggle gold in chocolate bars and fake coins.”
Flintfeather knew the sailors were going to run, she could see it in their eyes. Sometimes she hated her job.
“Captain Shakka, you and your crew are under arrest for gold smuggling. Skytop, tell them they’re under arrest.”
Before Skytop could utter a single syllable, the donkey, the water buffalo, and the two zebras bolted down the dock as fast as their legs could carry them. Unfortunately for them, the koas of Manasazi were far faster. Sequoia leapt on the lot of them and lashed out with her two forlegs. She wrapped each arm around the necks of the donkey and one of the zebras, her flexible limbs coiling over them like black vines. Pathfinder was just as quick to grab the captain, holding the zebra in an iron hard headlock. This left the water buffalo for Skytop.
The buffalo was big, and well over twice the size of the broad bat pony. Skytop launched himself into the side of the horned behemoth, hoping to tip him over. This almost worked, but the beast was so massive that all it did was stall him. Thinking quickly, Skytop reached for one of the buffalo’s legs, but a loud “whack” could be heard as one of the large hooves collided with his armored torso. This allowed the uffolo to escape the koa’s grip and he once again dashed down the dock, right towards Flintfeather and Bluebell.
Flintfeather cursed in her native language. She gripped Bluebell tightly in her wing, and then launched the both of them out of the way of the charging bull. Bluebells heart leapt into her throat as she felt her hooves leave the ground. Flintfeather really hoped Windcaller was in position to take down the buffalo before he hurt someone.
Luckily she was. Before the buffalo was able to make it too far down the pier, a pale purple hoof shot out like lightning from behind a stack of barrels and struck the crook in the joint of his left foreleg. This seemingly minor blow bent the arm under the buffalo’s body and sent him veering into a wooden dock post.
Windcaller casually stepped out from behind the barrels and looked down at the dazed bovine. “Stay on the ground, scumbag, your not going anywhere!” She loved it when she could say stupid stuff like that.
Flintfeather stabilized Bluebell and retracted her wing from her back.
“You alright there Bluebell?”
Bluebell re-adjusted her glasses and nodded, not quite calm enough to communicate verbally.
“Good, because I need you to go find Tall Oak and tell him to send backup and a medic. Can you do that for me?”
Bluebell nodded again, then hurried away to find the high counter. Flintfeather turned to survey the damage on the pier. Sequoia had cuffed the donkey and two zebras to a dock horn. Skytop had recovered from his date with the buffalo’s hoof and was now locking the brute’s hind legs together with a set of cuffs. Windcaller just stood there, looking all too pleased with herself. The buffalo on the other hoof, was not pleased at all and he was being very vocal about it.
“What’s he wining about Skytop?” Asked Windcaller.
“He says you broke his arm, and that you’ll pay for humiliating him.”
Windcaller looked the prone buffalo in the eyes.
“I only dislocated it ye two horned toad. But I wish I had broken it, along with your jaw!”
Skytop was glad the buffalo couldn’t understand her and was not going to translate the mad mares insults.
“So.” Exclaimed Sequoia aloud to her friends. “Who here is looking forward to filling out paperwork?”
Bluebell watched as port authorities swept over the crime scene. When she was ordered to chase down the high counter, she didn’t know exactly what backup meant. It apparently meant 10 extra koas, a large prison cart with hoof cuffs chained to it, and a field medic.
The field medic was actually a bit unusual, at least, to Bluebell he was. He was a griffon, with white feathers and gray hind legs. He wore a white vest, and had a bag of medical supplies slung over his shoulder.
“How are you two doing, any injuries?”
Flintfeather had gone back to standing by Bluebell in protection, something the unicorn appreciated very much. They were now being tended to by the griffon.
“I’m fine, thank you”. Bluebell said. The griffon was very polite and pleasant, something that went against Bluebells preconceived notions about them. Bluebell had been lead to believe by her friends at home that griffons were callus and aggressive, though she doubted any of her friends had actually met a griffon. Bluebell also noticed that his eagle talons had been ground down to dull points, probably to prevent any accidents.
“I’m fine as well.” Said Flintfeather. “But I think theres a buffalo who needs a arm popped back into place.”
The griffon gave an exhasperated look.
“I know, Windcaller was bragging about it while I was checking Skytop’s ribs. Don’t worry, his bones are fine, there’s just a brise. But I’m not looking forward to wrestling a buffalo’s arm back into place. Well, better get to it then.”
They watched as the griffon left to deal with the two horned convicts arm.
“He was nice.” Said Bluebell.” I’ve never met a griffon before.”
“You know Sequoia is nice too.” Said Flintfeather. “You shouldn’t be afraid of her.”
Bluebell looked down to the ground in shame.
“I know it’s just… She creeps me out. When I was little I would hear stories about changelings stealing little foals for not eating their broccoli or skipped school. Its not something I can easily get over.”
“You know many ponies would have the same reaction to me because I have wings like these.” Flintfeather said as she lifted up her left bat wing. Bluebell looked at it and while it was strange, the claw shaped wing just didn’t have the same impact as Sequoia’s insect like features and hole-riddled legs. Although, Bluebell did see something she hadn’t before. The edges of Flintfeather’s membranous wings were colored dark gray, as if she had dipped her wings partially in gray paint.
“Trust me Bluebell.” Said the sachem as she lowered her wing. “There are things far more deserving of your fear in this world than Sequoia.”
Flintfeather’s lesson was punctuated by the loud cry of a buffalo having his leg snapped back into its socket.
Flintfeather could tell the little unicorn wasn’t trying to bee mean or hurtful. Flintfeather had seen plenty of meanness directed towards Sequoia and this wasn’t it. Bluebell was just trying to cope with a new world and this crime scene wasn’t doing her any favors. She needed to get Bluebell out of here fast Flintfeather looked over to see Skytop putting his armor back on.
“Skytop, come over here, I’ve got a job for you.”
Skytop applied his helmet and trotted over to his sachem.
“What do you need boss?”
“First, how are the ribs?”
Skytop chuckled. “They’re fine, that buffalo kicked like a grasshopper.”
“Glad to hear it.” Said Flintfeather. “Now I need you to take Bluebell here off the site. There’s not much she can do while port authorities have the place taken care of anyway.”
“Where do you want me to take her?” Skytop asked.
“Take her to the Coral Shores Coffee Shop, they have menus there she can read. You know what coffee is right Bluebell?”
Bluebell nodded with a smile. “We have coffee in Canterlot.”
“Good, just stick to Skytop. And Skytop.” She said as she looked towards the blue-coated koa. “Don’t let her order something too strong. I don’t want a repeat of the last time you brought a pony to a coffee shop.”
He gave a guilty stare for a few seconds.
“OK.”
Skytop brought Bluebell further inland, to a small coffee shop that overlooked the coast. The shop was pleasant and roomie, as unlike the crowded cliffs of the main city, the open coast offered more space for tables. Bluebell looked out to the beachfront to see a coast of dark cobble and jagged stone. There wasn’t a speck of the white sand bluebell was used to seeing in magazines.
When they were given a menu Bluebell was happy to see that they were translated into her language, as well as about five others. Skytop ordered a mug of pitch-black coffee, which he took and immediately saturated with sugar. Bluebell was never a fan of coffee, so she ordered a mug of hot chocolate. Although when she got it, she wasn’t sure if they had heard her order correctly. What she got was a mug of a dark, viscous sludge that looked more like crude oil than hot coco. Skytop could see the confusion in Bluebells eyes.
“You accidentally got the real stuff. Sorry that I didn’t catch it when you ordered.”
Bluebell sipped the bitter concoction.
“What do you mean? I’ve never heard of this before.”
“That’s because you ordered xocolatl, it’s a far less processed version of what you’re used to, which we in Manasazi call children’s cocoa.”
Bluebell looked a little embarrassed but continued to sip the bitter drink.
After Bluebell had drained her small cup to about halfway, she decided to ask Skytop about something she had noticed about him but was too afraid to ask while the others were around.
“Hey Skytop, can I ask you a weird question?”
Skytop finished drinking the rest of his coffee. “Well sure, what do you want to know?”
Bluebell took a minute to formulate how she would ask this question. She didn’t want to offend her new friend after all.
“Its your eyes. I’ve noticed tat your pupils are rounded while the eyes of every other bat pony I’ve seen are slit-like.” Bluebell almost instantly regretted asking after she said the question aloud. Luckily, Skytop was not at all offended.
“Oh that. Yeah, I don’t have slit shaped pupils like most bat ponies, but there’s actually a very good explanation for that. I’m entirely a bat pony.”
Bluebell took a moment to attempt to process this information. Once her brain had given up she simply asked.
“What?”
“Yea, I’m half unicorn.”
Bluebell still was having trouble understanding what the clearly non-unicorn pony in front of her was trying to explain to her.
“What?”
Bluebells confusion was actually confusing Skytop. He didn’t see what was so complicated about what he was saying.
“Well my dad is a Manasazi bat pony, and my mom is a unicorn from Canterlot. So I got my dads wings, while I have my mom’s eyes and ears. I also have my moms silky smooth mane.” Skytop ran his hoof through his hair to demonstrate its brilliance. “But trust me, I would much rather be a unicorn.”
Bluebell had never met some pony like this. Most if not all of the ponies she knew where from pureblooded families.
“Is that… normal to have different kinds of ponies as parents?”
“Its more common to have mixed parents in Manasazi than it is in other cities.” Explained Skytop. “But I’m kind of unusual, as most ponies who have mixed families are half bat pony and half earth pony. My dad met my mom when he went on a business trip to Canterlot. They fell in love and she ran off with him. My mom had kind of a falling out with her parents because of that, so I’ve never met my relatives in Canterlot. But I do know I have two cousins who I really want to meet someday.”
“Well when I visit Canterlot for heaths warming eve, I’ll be more than happy to take you with me.”
Skytop smiled at the little unicorn. “I would like that very much.”
Bluebell was about to take another sip of her sludge when she saw Skytop’s eyes grow wide.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
Skytop put his hooves together nervously. “Hello dark koa, what can we do for you?”
Bluebell turned around in her seat to face whoever Skytop was talking to and immediately wished she hadn’t. Standing directly behind her was the imposing form of a bat pony in dark, sinister looking armor. Bluebell immediately turned back around to face Skytop again and froze. She didn’t want to face the menace that had appeared behind her. She hadn’t even heard him walking up to her.
“W-what’s behind me?” Bluebell asked in a quivering voice.
It’s a royal guard.” Answered Skytop. “Don’t panic, they can smell your fear.”
Bluebell was already well into panicking. “Why is he here?”
Her answer came in a low, cold voice. “I am here to take you to the palace. You have been summoned by royal order and I am to personally escort you.”
The royal guards voice was almost as bad as scary as he was. Bluebell, having no idea why she was being arrested by the soldier that stood behind her, was almost in tears, and refused to turn to face the metal monster.
“Am I in trouble? I didn’t do anything wrong I swear!”
Skytop had enough of this. He got up out of his seat and walked himself between the dark koa and the crying bluebell. “What’s this about spook? Since when are royal guards sent to pick up a civilian?” Skytop put up a good front, but deep down he was deathly afraid of the figure before him. Manasazi royal guard were notorious for their brutal treatment of those who got in their way and Skytop was well aware that he could easily end up on the ground with 4 broken legs if he pushed he spook too far. But he was more than willing to stand up for a friend, even if it meant he might end up worse than the water buffalo.
The royal guard looked Skytop right in the eyes, any emotion hidden behind a metal mask. “Stand down koa, I’m not here to hurt the little pony. I was sent by the princess to bring Ms. Bluebell to a royal tea party being held at the palace.”
Bluebell perked her head up at the words “royal tea party.” I’ve been invited to the palace, for a tea party? A royal tea party?! Why?”
Skytop hastily stepped out from between Bluebell and the spook to let them talk. He suddenly felt very silly having made a scene.
“I was not told the specifics of your invitation, just that I am to bring you straight to the palace immediately.”
Bluebell looked over to Skytop. He gave her a nod, as if to say “Better do what it says.” Bluebell looked up at the royal guard while wiping water from her eyes.
“I would be honored to attend the royal tea party. Thank you.” Bluebell got down from her seat, then realized a possible problem. “Can we take a cart? It’s a bit of a walk back to the city and I’m not very fast on my feet.”
Skytop winced when he heard Bluebells request. She really had no idea who she was talking to. This was a pony who would sooner drag the poor unicorn than take the time to hail a taxi.
“I have brought a suitable transport to ferry you to the palace. Now come with me.”
Skytop relaxed. “Well I guess ill see you later Bluebell, have fun at the tea party. Oh, and try not to make any sudden movements.”
“All right,, bye Skytop!” Bluebell shouted as she was lead away by the armored guard.
Skytop stood there, watching his unicorn friend disappear down a busy street with a big spooky pony at her side. “Great”, he thought, “How am I going to explain this to Flintfeather.”