//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Lost Time // Story: Fillies' Play // by Goldenheart //------------------------------// Fillies Play Chapter 5 -Harlem: Zebrica Medical Aid, 9:00 P.M.- 20 hours remain...... The group has made it to their destination, but are now at each other's heads. Hairy has just spilled the beans on his and Max's little secret, and are now being constantly being eyed on by Tangerine and Sherbet. While in the tent, they managed to take in their surroundings. They take a look around the tent and see that along the sides of the cloth, there's shelves and hangers filled to the brim with odds and ends of magical items, brews, potions, and what appears to be a jar of frogs legs. They're sitting in the middle of the tent, which is set up with a rug and a couple of cushions. At the center of the tent, and the sitting area they're at, is a big bubbling cauldron. They're host is in the back of the tent, which is set up with several cloths to separate the rooms. Maximus assumes that could be the zebra's room. The zebra comes back with a bottle in his mouth, and the bottle is see-through with a bubbling purple liquid inside. He then comes by and sets the potion in-between Maximus and Hairy. Maximus is confused at this gesture and didn't even ask the colt one for anything yet. "What's this for?", asks Maximus. "That's for you and your griffon friend here. Drink it up to heal your horn, and his wing.", says the old zebra as he gestures to take the potion. Maximus didn't know what to do. He doesn't know if he should trust him right away. They came here to find this healer, so maybe he's already trying to help them? Either way, he's going to take the potion. He takes the cork off the bottle and spits it away. Maximus then takes the bottle in his mouth, and drinks half of it down. After putting the potion down, he feels something strange happening on his horn. There's a bright flash on his head, and then it just vanishes as fast as it comes. He's wondering what happened, so he takes off his bandage and tries to do his magic. He tries to levitate the bottle, and sees that it's floating with his magic. Shocked, he touches his horn, and it doesn't move. His horn is fixed! While the bottle is still floating, he then levitates it over to Hairy and gestures him to take it. Hairy opens his mouth and then drinks the rest of the potion down. Hairy then spits out the bottle, and then the same bright flash comes from his broken wing. Just like before, the flash disappeared and now Hairy's wing is fixed, as he flaps it up and down to test it. Tangerine and Sherbet are shocked to see something like this happen. They're used to seeing magic from somepony like Twilight, but nothing like potions or any other magical items from other than yesterday. Hairy then speaks up to ask the zebra a question, "Why did you help us with our broken limbs? We didn't even ask for anything yet." "I saw you in trouble, and I knew you needed my assistance. Broken parts are just fillies play to me.", says the zebra with a smile on his face. "But that's not the reason we're here, but thanks for healing us.", says Maximus. The zebra then raises his brow and ask, "Oh, then what is it you need?" "I'll gladly tell you the whole thing.", says Maximus with a smile on his face. Before he starts speaking, Maximus sees Tangerine and Sherbet still trying to stare him down. He then looks back to the zebra with now a sad looking face and says, "The TRUE reason we're here." Maximus then begins to tell him everything that has happened up to this point. This took about an hour to explain the whole story up to this point and also explain why they need help. "I see. You need these supplies to make the antidote right? This spell is very complicated, I'm surprised your friend tried to attempt it.", says the concerned zebra. "So, will you help us?", asks Sherbet. "Of course I will. Oh and by the way, call me Gilmaan.", says the zebra. "Thank you Mr. Gilmaan. Plus it just hit me, don't zebra's usually rhyme when they talk?", asks Hairy. "You're right saying that, but I was born here in Equestria. My parents came here from Zebrica while they were still young. I've lived here my whole life, but I still keep to my family heritage as you can see my stock is from my native land.", explains Gilmaan. "So, do you have the supplies we need?", asks Sherbet. Gilmaan then has a frown on his face, "Sadly, I don't my friends." Everypony has a shocked expression on their faces, as if they've seen a ghost. "Then, we'll stay like this forever?", says Tangerine as if she's about to cry. "Now don't cry young one, I can get the supplies you need, and I'll even make the antidote for free as well.", says Gilmaan with a kind tone. Then the group starts having hope again, as Gilmaan has complete faith that he'll be able to get their supplies. "But for now, you need your rest. You all have been running around all day. Plus, Harlem is no place for ponies at this hour.", says Gilmaan. They want to keep going, but he's right. They'll be in no commission to go anywhere if they made an all-nighter. So they all agree to stay the night. "I'll get you some guest sheets.", says Gilmaan as he starts to leave. As he leaves the room, Tangerine and Sherbet then get up and go over to Maximus and Hairy, still upset. "You better not be getting ideas of going anywhere! You're sticking with us and we'll be next to you the whole night!", says a stern Tangerine. "What point is there in leaving now? We'll be back on the streets after this is all over.", says an upset Maximus. "What are you talking about?", asks Sherbet. "Why do you think Hairy and I took up treasure hunting?", says Maximus. "To get rich, what else?", says a sarcastic Sherbet. "To make sure we never suffer the horrors of being poor, and with no family.", says Hairy as he speaks up. Tangerine and Sherbet then look to Hairy. "What do you mean?", asks Tangerine. "There more to our story, than meets the eye.", says Hairy in a dry tone. ------------------------------ As far as we can remember, Maxy and I grew up on the streets, with no parents, and no memory of where we came from. With no money to our name, we often tried scamming ponies, doing sidewalk shows, or even stealing to get by. At one point, we were to the point of starvation, and even the cops were on the lookout for us. When winter hit, we were cold and alone. It seemed like the Gates of Tatarus were about to welcome us. When we woke up, we were in the hospital. The doctors told us we would have died if a janitor didn't find us in the alleyway. We stayed in the hospital for weeks to get treated for malnourishment and hypothermia. After we were released, the cops puts us in a foster home. At first, we were living the dream, finally having a family to care for us, and have all the food we needed. Only to realize that it didn't last long. We were soon being treated like servants. We had to clean, cook, dress, and act nice in front of their peers. For you see, we were put in a house of upper crust citizens. We were their dress up dolls, supposed to act like puppets with no will. This was worse than the alleyway we lived in, we were thinking of going back. The only problem was, was it the best decision? Then Maxy had an idea, we'd steal their jewelry. When they went to sleep one night, we stole all of their jewelry from their jewel case. Afterwards, we left in the middle of the night and ran off towards Fillydelphia. After we sold the jewelry, we made a life for ourselves by getting an old office building. We then decided to try and start a business to keep the money coming. We were stumped on trying to find out what to do, and then we found a news article about a missing diamond. We then started searching, but came up empty hooved. After days of searching, we almost gave up. Until Maxy accidentally sat on the diamond, in the middle of the park we were in. It was near a tree, and so small, it was hard to see from plain sight. We then soon gave it back and got a very large reward, and Maxy also got his cutie mark that day for finding treasure. Maxy then decided we would become treasure hunters and get rich of finding any lost artifacts. Growing up from young kids with no money to their name, to young adult treasure hunters, this was the life we knew we needed to stay away from the life of the poor ever again. ---------------------------------- Hairy finishes his story and starts crying afterwards. Maximus also tries to hold it all in, but joins his friend in the waterworks, but more restrainted. Sherbet and Tangerine are both surprised, but they're also filled with guilt after starting to give them a hard time when their secret was revealed. They then go over and give both of them a comforting hug. "We had no idea what you've been through.", says a sorry Tangerine. Maximus pulls away and says with bitter harshness, "You have no idea what we experienced! Our life was a constant struggle for our very lives! I don't need your sympathy!" Tangerine is now frightened and hurt from his words. She is just staring at his red and watery eyes with anger still present. Then Hairy breaks away from Sherbet's hold goes over to hug his friend. "They're our friends now, they wish to help us. I know that you have issues with trust. Trust in them, and they'll trust in us.", says a sincere Hairy. Maximus tries to ignore this, but then gets down on all fours in defeat as his friend's words reach him. He then bawls out as he lets out all of his built up emotions. Tangerine and Sherbet then join Hairy in a group hug to comfort the sobbing unicorn. The rest of the night lasted with the whole group never moving from that spot until Gilmaan came back with sheets. -------------------------------------- -Manehattan Library, 10:00 A.M.- 7 hours remain...... The inside of the library is a cheesy mess after Spike was forced to make more Macaroni and Cheese from the demanding fillies. This ended up taking the whole night to finish until he passed out. Spike wakes up on the floor of the kitchen, sore all over. He gets up, still drowsy, and heads over to the kitchen door to get out. As he gets out, he sees the fillies all passed out on the floor outside the door. He guessed that they were going to jump him after he got out of the kitchen, but passed out waiting for him. He ignores them and goes to the second floor to see Twilight. As he finally makes it to the door, he enters her room. He then sees that Twilight is at her desk reading a book. "Morning Twilight. Found anything yet?", asks Spike. Twilight doesn't respond to him. Spike then tries asking again, this time getting closer and speaking a little louder. "Twilight? Have you found anything?", asks a baffled Spike. Twilight still doesn't respond. Spike then fully goes to her side and sees that she's still reading, but has bags under her eyes. She must've been up all night. "Whoa, déjà vu.", thinks Spike. Spike then shrugs her to get her attention. Twilight then snaps out of her trance, and lets out a big yawn. She then looks and sees Spike, and asks, "Oh, hello Spike. What time is it?" "It's morning, 10 o'clock.", says Spike. Twilight then goes wide-eyed and then looks over to her window to see that the sun is out. "Oh my gosh! Why didn't you tell me?", asks Twilight. "You said you were busy, and I was being dragged around by the fillies all day.", says an upset Spike. Twilight then goes over to her book, and sees that it wasn't the book she was looking for, but just regular Daring Do books. In fact, there's a huge pile of those books in one area. "Whoa, déjà vu.", says Twilight. "I know right?", point out Spike. Twilight s trying to recollect why this all happened. Then it hit her. She then hoofslaps her head in disgust after realizing what happened. "Ugh, I'm such an idiot!", shouts Twilight. "What's wrong?", asks Spike. "I was going to research some of the books I brought from Canterlot, but I ended up with nothing. So I thought to check the books here in the library, but I got distracted by reading Daring Do to pass the time.", explains Twilight. "That's not like you to get easily distracted.", says Spike. "You're right. Ooh, this spell is getting worse by the minute!", says a worried Twilight. She then looks over to the window to look outside, hopefully to see her friends returning with the antidote. "Hurry back guys, we don't have much time left.", says Twilight, hopefully waiting for her friends. ------------------------------------- -Harlem: Zebrica Medical Aid- The group got up very fast the moment Gilmaan woke them up to get ready and find their supplies. They didn't have much time left, so they ate breakfast quickly and got instructions where to find their supplies. Locations for Supplies: Phoenix Feather- Manehattan Central Park Petting Zoo Poison Joke- Madison Mare Garden Senescit berries- Unknown: Requires above items "Why are the berries unknown?", asks Hairy "The location will be revealed after you bring the other 2 items back to me for your antidote.", says Gilmaan. "Why does it have to be that way?", asks Maximus. "In due time. But first...", says Gilmaan as he goes to grab something. He come back with two necklaces in his mouth, each with a flower at the end with a golden vine like design. "Put these on, both of you. Whatever you do, never take them off until you come back.", instructs Gilmaan. "Ooookay", awkwardly says Maximus. Both Maximus and Hairy put on the necklaces and each take a list to find the items. "I'll go with Sherbet to get the Poison Joke. My horn will avoid any of us getting infected from it. While you and Tangerine find the phoenix feather at the petting zoo. We meet back after lunch, got it?", as he instructs Hairy. Tangerine and Sherbet also agree to Max's plan to separate and cover the area for less time. "Alright, let's move out!", shouts Maximus. They then rush out the tent and into Harlem to begin their search. Gilmaan remains in the center of the room and says to himself, "Celestia, pray these ponies aren't too late." 7 hours remain......