Stormy saw the bus in the parking structure and he ran, ran as fast as his hooves would carry him. Saddlebag slamming into his hips as it bounced. The dirty sidewalk flashed past in a blur then became asphalt as he entered the parking structure only to see the bus pull out and leave him.
The pegasus huffed, and glared at the bus. If he hadn’t been so lost in thought. His stomach growled, lunch having been light with only a partial sandwich. The pony looked at his watch. Seven, which explained the darkening city. Just like Canterlot, the sun was cut off by the tall buildings.
The bus won’t be back for another hour, may as well find something to eat, something that can be eaten. He looked around at the streets, with people moving, this was not a place he wanted to be after dark. Stormy went to the nearest restaurant he could see, some sort of barbeque place and looked at the posted menu, and everything had some sort of meat to it. Even he knew what pork and beef were, not vegetables. He decided to go to the corner, and across the street sat a place called ‘Veggie Grill’.
Stormy hoped it was really was what the sign said, but several others had words he wasn’t familiar with. It was a little brick building and if it weren’t for all he had seen, the pony would have thought humans were at the same level as ponies, they had so many brick buildings. A small sign by the door had an “A” on it for quality; it didn’t mean anything to the pony. The sign below it did though: “Everything approved for consumption by Equestrians.” Next to that was a menu proclaiming they even had hay fries under a section marked “Equestrian Specialties”.
Inside the place was a mash of carrot orange and zucchini green with large booths filling up the empty space. A large menu attached to the ceiling above the two registers, which was good as there were three people in line. Four he realized, seeing the recognizable gold armor and blue crest of a Royal Canterlot Guard who took a small clear cup in his mouth and trotted off to a seat.
Stormy looked back to the menu while he could and looked at the non-“Equestrian” food which had things like veggie burger and something called chikn nuggets. His stomach was going to the daffodil and daisy sandwich seasoned with dill. The choices of fries were regular, sweet potato and hay. The pony debated getting it, soon enough he would be home and there he knew where to get quality food. But he so missed regular food, something with flowers or plants. He also needed to think of the coming year where for nine months he would be on Earth having to eat human food so he wondered whether he should find human food he really liked or a place for good Equestrian food. Then he looked at the prices.
Eating out would use up all my money and food is provided on campus. He tried working out what to do.
Stormy got to the front and still wasn’t sure what to get and eight dollars for the daisy sandwich was high to him, but his stomach overruled him and it was ordered along with regular fries and a water. He was given a number and a clear cup with his change and went to find a seat.
The pegasus didn’t realize how full the place was until he tried to find a seat. They all had people at them, except for the one with the Royal Guard who was waving with the tip of his wing. Stormy didn’t know if he should go over, most of the guards he knew, at least the ones in their armor, were rather cold and one had even levitated him into the air. The face on this one wasn’t much better as he seemed to scowl.
But there was no other seat available so he filled his cup with water and went to meet the guard. The guard sat and had a small smile plastered over his face before reaching out a hoof. “You can call me DK.”
“Umm, Stormy Skies.” As he sat a person came out with a tray of food and set it in front of the guard.
“They are mighty fast tonight. Must be the uniform.” The guard giggled before lifting his burger up with a hoof.
Stormy realized how tired he was and yet something had sparked and questions flew from his muzzle. “Does that mean you come here often? Is this place popular among ponies? Are you having meat like that zebra? Why is a guard here?”
DK slowly swallowed the partially chewed food and looked absently from his food to the pony and let his moth hang open, a piece of sesame stuck between two teeth. “One question at a time padawan.”
“Padawan?” There was another phrase Stormy had never heard.
“It’s an Earth saying.”
Stormy nodded as the guard continued.
“No, it is not meat. The burger as you called it is just made out of vegetables and eggs and maybe some bread. This is one of the more popular establishments as you know what is in the food before you order it and this place doesn’t even serve meat. Although you still get the stares so on campus is preferred by some, but it sure beats the Everfree Forest. I like to come in once a week and I am here because I just got off duty and was hungry.” DK reached down for a hay fry before looking back up for clarification. “Zebras eat meat?”
“The one I met did.” The smell of food was intoxicating. “You lived in the Everfree?”
“Until I was ordered here. It’s a great place for survival training and in case anypony gets lost in there. Although at least there I could go into town to talk to the cute mares.”
“Why are there guards here?” Stormy asked. “You are the first one I’ve seen.”
“For protection. There are threats made often and to walk ponies home if need be. Also to make a presence known. But some are here without their armor.”
“But wouldn’t they still be white and blue?” Every guard he had ever seen shared the same colors.
“Celestia no. Not all of us at least. The armor changes the appearance of a pony, you can’t even tell mares from colts.” Stormy did remember that much. “There are always at least two on duty.”
A bright light flashed in both pegasi’s eyes. The guard growled as Stormy blinked the lights out of his eyes. “What was that?”
“Camera flash.” DK picked his burger back up as Stormy’s food arrived. “Have you not noticed?”
“Noticed cameras?” Stormy thought about his few days. “Only this one when a human surprised me with a kiss.”
DK looked about the restaurant, twisting this way and that. “How many people here do you think have a camera or have been watching or listening to us?”
Stormy looked about for himself, trying to pay attention to the people. The only thing he saw was the guard stealing some of his fries. In response, the yellow pegasus took some hay fries for his own to the laughing of the guard. “None.” He responded.
“Wrong. All of them probably have cameras and at least five were staring at us when I looked.”
Stormy looked again but couldn’t see any large machines, then he remembered the girl with her phone. They have more advanced technology. They all have cameras in their phones. He looked about again, paying attention to what he thought was irrelevant.
“Now you see it.” DK said around a mouthful of fries.
And he did. Over in a corner were two people posing with their phone, obviously taking a picture of themselves, but Stormy knew he was in the picture. He caught furtive glances from several other patrons, their heads shifted if he looked their way. A few were speaking in hushed tones that the pegasus could only guess at the meanings. How much have I missed? Am I just something to watch and gawk at?
“How many ponies do you think live in this area?” DK asked. “Less than forty, in a population of tens of thousands. What would happen if a human went for a stroll through Canterlot?”
Stormy thought about it. What did they really want? He felt overwhelmed. His heart raced. He continued glancing about. Nearly jumping out of his seat as something touched his hoof.
“It’s ok.” The guard was speaking. For some reason Stormy couldn’t comprehend that the voice was coming from the guard. “They are just curious. Most don’t mean anything. They do get annoying though.”
“Then why are there guards here?” He felt his eyes grow wide. Must get out. He looked at the door, wondering how quickly he could get out and how many people were in his way.
“How many guards are in Canterlot?”
“I don’t know.” Stormy looked back to the guard.
“Quite a few.” DK answered slowly, making sure each word was clear. “How safe is it from attack? Normally.”
“Quite safe. It’s the center of Equestria.”
“Then why are there so many guards.”
“Just in case something goes wrong.” Stormy said, everypony knew that. Most cities or towns had some sort of defense.
“Exactly.” DK excitedly slammed a hoof down on the table.
“Huh?” Stormy didn’t get it.
“You really aren’t a clever pony are you?” The guard let out another giggle. “Think about it.”
DK waved to the people behind the counter and they promptly brought out two boxes.
“What are these for?” Stormy stared at the flimsy material.
“For your food padawan. If you don’t leave soon you will miss your bus to the airport?”
Stormy looked at his watch, he had been sitting and talking longer than he thought and had barely even touched his food.
“How did you know?” Stormy kept looking at the time, he had maybe five minutes to get there. He looked up to see DK putting the daisy sandwich and the regular fries Stormy had ordered into a box. Stormy noticed some hay fries in the bottom.
“It’s my job.” The guard winked and Stormy shoved the carton into his bag and bolted for the door.
Stormy felt his hooves pound against the concrete and the jolts travel up his legs. He heard the clopping as he ran as fast as he could, he knew he was late and would miss the bus again and he could see people watching as he ran past.
The pegasus entered the parking garage, moving over the course material made for cars and saw the bus. He also saw a human arguing with the bus driver.
The human was in a fine black suit and padding his pockets like he was looking for something. “I do not think I forgot it.” Even from the back the pony knew Edward, the book he was carrying only made it easier.
“Hurry up kid. We don’t have all day.” The bus driver looked annoyed as his eyes shifted to the watch and his other passengers.
Edward turned around to the pony, probably hearing his clopping. “Hey Stormy. I can’t seem to find my wallet.” He grinned. “Can I borrow ten dollars for the bus?”
More things that confused the pony. Stormy knew you couldn’t fly without an ID and yet he did owe Edward and if it weren’t for this he would have missed the bus. “Sure.” He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out twenty dollars, he didn’t like how fast money disappeared.
The bus was packed, there were only three open seats, with two being across the aisle from each other. Stormy picked one as Ed picked the other.
“Thank you.” Edward told the pony. “I do not know what happened.”
“No problem.” Stormy replied, ignoring the small bulge in his friend’s side pocket. “How many books did you bring?” He asked, staring at the black bound book with gold letter that read ‘Ars Goetia’. The rhythmic rocking of the bus as it pulled out started to lull the pony, it had been a long week.
“Enough. Maybe about twelve. Just in case.”
In case of what? Nopony can read that much in three days. His eyelids drifted down and his head smacked into the back of the chair in front of him. “Ow” he muttered. The week had taken its toll as he lost the fight for consciousness.