//------------------------------// // Distraction and sweets // Story: Age Turned // by Pen Brush //------------------------------// The Doctor walked slowly through the streets of Ponyville, as many of the now older, taller residents wandering place to place obscured his view of the buildings and any of his attempts to find the library futile. He sighed, It can't really be this difficult to find a library, much less a library that is made out of a hollow tree! he thought as he continued to walk. after awhile he broke out into a swift run, going under other ponies legs, ignoring the yelling he heard from behind as he almost tripped multiple different ponies. While he ran, The Doctor smelled the air, hoping that he might catch the scent of the library through the different smells of the ponies around him. Instead of smelling anything remotely close to the scent of books, the almost hypnotic scent of freshly baked foods caught his attention. The Doctor tilted his head, I must be close to Sugarcube Corner then, it isn't near the library by any means, but it smells lovely... he thought, the wonderful smell drawing him closer. He started walking closer towards where the smell was coming from before he stopped and shook his head, “What am I doing? this is not a time for eating pastries, this is important!” he muttered, before he turned back around and walked the other way, staying closer to the edge of the streets where nopony else was walking. By climbing over the front stoops of some houses, he managed to figure out if he was getting closer to his destination and eventually he was able to see the top of the huge library tree and parts of the balcony just on the other side of the street. The Doctor smiled, “Finally I may be able to get some assistance in fixing this problem.” he said, jumping down from off of one of the house stoops and across the street, again going between others hooves. He stopped at the library door and pushed on it, surprised when it wouldn't even budge. He tried pushing on it again to no avail, and he inevitably gave up and knocked on the door instead, to small to push it open,or get to the doorknob. When the door opened into the library after a minute of waiting, instead of a purple unicorn greeting him like he had expected, he was instead met by a purple and green baby dragon just a few inches above his eye level. He frowned and pushed past the dragon, “I do not require a baby reptile for assistance!” he exclaimed impatiently as he ran through the library in search of the purple librarian. Spike watched the brown colt run crazily around the library, yelling gibberish nonsense he couldn't even make out. He scratched behind his back before he heard hoofsteps approaching from the kitchen door, before it glowed bright purple and opened up as Twilight walked in. Twilight looked at Spike, slightly miffed, “What are you doing in here? I told you to keep the library quiet so that I could concentrate. This spell is supposed to help with cleaning the library and would make it so it could clean itself!” she said, walking over to him. Spike shrugged, “It isnt me, its this weird colt. I let him in and he starting running around like he was crazy and yelling gibberish for no reason. Unless its some sort of weird language. Do you know what it is?” he asked. Twilight hummed in thought before she shook her head, “No, I have read all about many languages, and what he is saying is not a language I have read about. If I had to guess, that gibberish is a language he made up. Sometimes foals will do that if they are shy or don't have many friends to spend time with, but that doesn't stop them from speaking in a language others can understand.” she explained as she looked over to the colt, who seemed to have calmed down and was watching her. Spike rolled his eyes, “Well he doesn't seem very shy at all. Cant imagine why he wouldnt have friends.” he said sarcastically. “Spike, that isn't nice.” Twilight said, before she walked over to the foal and smiled as he looked up at her, “Hello, are you looking for a book?” she asked, kneeling so she was at his eye level. Instead of reverting back into a real language like Twilight had thought to answer her, he only continued to mutter gibberish as he tried pulling on her hoof. She sighed and gently removed her hoof from his grasp before she stood up, “I’m afraid I can't help you with anything until you actually tell me what you need until you use words I can understand.” she said, frowning deeply as he yelled more and tried pushing on her leg again. “I’m sorry, but when you decide you would like to actually tell me what the problem is and have a real conversation with me you can come back, but right now you need leave since you don't want to elaborate. Spike, could you please lead him out for me and ask him who his parents might be if he decides to speak to you?” she asked, turning to face the dragon. Spike nodded, “Sure Twilight.” he said. Twilight smiled and walked back into the kitchen as Spike walked over to the colt and started to push him towards the door. the colt struggled against him, but Spike managed to stop him from getting away as he opened the door and put him out on the stoop. He looked at the colt and smiled hastily as he let him go, “Hey, sorry, but you were kinda unhelpful in what you wanted. No hard feelings?” he asked, extending a clawed hand over to the colt for a hoof shake. The colts ears flattened against his head as he glared stubbornly at Spike, before he moved forward and bit down hard onto his hand. “Ahhh!” Spike yelled, flailing his arm as he tried to pull the colt off. He flicked the colt in the muzzle with his free hand, and like he expected, the colt let go quickly and looked at his muzzle, “Jeez, what's your problem?” he grumbled, rubbing his claw, “Whatever, it doesn't matter. Just stay away from me.” he said as he turned around and walked into the library, before closing the door. Leaving the colt outside. The Doctor stood up from the stoop and sighed, “What did I do wrong? I thought I had made what I was saying quite clear to the unicorn. I suppose I was wrong. I’m going to have to fix that. If I can't understand them, and they can't me, that means I also cannot read or write in a language ponies understand as well. How wonderful, the TARDIS really has left me defenseless, as if being a colt for no reason wasn't bad enough already, I also need to learn their language without the TARDIS for help now, it won't necessarily be hard to learn the language, but it will still be frustrating nonetheless.” he muttered. He thought about that for a second before what had happened moments ago came to the front of his mind, “I have no idea why I bit the dragon though, I was a bit mad but obviously that isn't a reason to bite a dragon. This colt body seems make me very stubborn and impatient I suppose, I wonder why that is.” The Doctor smiled smiled, “Oh well, I guess since getting assistance didnt work I can go and get a little snack at Sugarcube Corner. I believe I deserve it.” he said happily as he trotted into the now much less crowded street back towards the bakery. The Cutie Mark Crusaders sat at a table against the back wall of Sugarcube Corner in front of the counter, beside the staircase that led up to the bedrooms. They needed to be as isolated as they were because they were discussing secret matters of great importance. Apple Bloom took a sip of her strawberry milkshake before she spoke, “All ahm sayin’ Scootaloo is that yer comin up with some real dangerous ideas ah how ta git our cutie marks and none ah them have seemed ta work at all. Maybe were jus’ good at some sorta simple easy stuff that don't involve us gettin’ ourselves hurt.” she suggested. Scootaloo shook her head angrily, “No way! We arent good at some old boring stuff, we are the cutie mark crusaders! We are going to find our talent at something totally awesome!” she exclaimed, hitting her forehooves against the table for emphasis, shaking the milkshakes resting on the table slightly. Sweetie sighed, “Could we at least do stuff that doesn't involve tree sap? Rarity is getting angry at me every day for coming home with a mess she thinks she has to clean up.” she asked desperately. Scootaloo sighed dramatically, “Those are the best kinds of things to try though! You have to get all messy and dirty while you do awesome stunts, that a part of the fun!” she exclaimed. “Ya also are able ta git stuck together with yer friends easier an’ makes ya unable ta move.” Apple Bloom interjected. “Yeah but...oh fine, no more tree sap.” Scootaloo muttered, folding her legs together against her chest as she silently sits back in her chair. Sweetie Belle looked down at their list of cutie mark ideas and club schedule, “That gets rid of most of the ideas on here.” she said, crossing multiple things off with a quill. “The sap slingshot was a good idea.” Scootaloo muttered defensively. “Woulda been if it weren't fer it not lettin us go once we pulled it all the way an let go.” Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo rolled her eyes, “Alright, whatever, lets just move on to something else.” she said, motioning to Sweetie Belle. Sweetie nodded and looked back down at the schedule notes, “The next order of business is for...new members. Do we know anypony who we could have join?” she asked. Scootaloo frowned, drawing a blank, “No, just like last time, we have nopony else to join.” she said. Apple Bloom smiled, “Actually, there is ah pony tha’ we can ask ta join who don't have ah mark, we may not know em, but ah don’ think tha matters.” she said. “Who?” Sweetie asked. “Ya know that new colt who jus joined tha class today? Hes got no cutie mark, he could join.” Apple Bloom suggested. Scootaloo shook her head, “No way.” she said simply. Apple Bloom stared at her, “Why?” she asked. Scootaloo leaned forward and hit her forehooves against the table, harder then before, the milkshakes shaking more violently before they calmed down again, “Because he’s a colt! The Cutie Mark Crusaders is a filly only club. Been that way since we made it, I ain't gunna change it.” she said. Apple Bloom blinked, “Jus cause we ain't got ah colt in tha club yet don't mean nothin. Anypony lookin fer their cutie marks ‘loud ta join. Right Sweetie Belle?” she asked, turning to Sweetie, who seemed very interested in her straw all of a sudden. Sweetie Belle looked up and smiled nervously, “Apple Bloom is right Scootaloo. Just because we haven't had a colt in the club yet doesnt mean its filly exclusive.” she blushed slightly and continued, “Plus...if we let him join, it would mean we would have the first colt to ever join the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” she exclaimed. Scootaloo sighed and sat back down, “I guess That’s cool...Fine, whenever we see him later weel invite him I guess.” she grumbled. The Cutie Mark Crusaders went back to studying their club notes in hushed voices as the front door opened behind them accompanied by the bell jingling. They only looked up when Pinkie hopped out of the back room through the kitchen doorway and stood behind the counter, a huge smile on her face as she stared behind the Crusaders. They looked over to the front door in time to see the new colt from school walk in, his nose held high as he smelled the air. Scootaloo looked at him oddly, “Why’s he doing that?” she wondered. Apple Bloom shrugged, “He’s probably gettin ah smell of all tha sweets ah reckon he never smelt anythin like Sugarcube Corner ‘afore.” she said. Sweetie Belle stayed silent as she watched the earth pony intently. Pinkie Pie smiled as she hopped over the counter and was next to the colt in a second, “Hi! IhaventseenyoubeforebutyoukindalookfamilierbutIdontknowalittlecoltlikeyouandIbetyouwantasnackbuthavenomoneybutdontworryI’llgiveyousomethingspecialasasmallwelcomefreeofcharge!” she exclaimed in one big breath, before she ran and disappeared again behind the kitchen door, leaving the confused colt by the door. Apple Bloom looked over the table at her friends, “Come on, lets go an git ourselves introduced ta him.” she said, getting down from her chair before she started towards the colt, Sweetie Belle not far behind her. Scootaloo sighed and slowly got out of her chair, before she stalked off after her friends.