//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Ponyville Incident // by grahmcracker //------------------------------// Chapter 2 Gray Wing awoke the next morning to a sweet smell wafting about his room. He got up out of bed and followed the smell downstairs where it got stronger and stronger. He followed it throughout the house till he found himself in a sleek modern metal kitchen. Bon-Bon was standing in front of the stove while Lyra sat at the table behind her eating French toast dripping with maple Syrup. “Uncle Gray, Bon-Bon made French toast. Want some?” she said before stuffing a piece in her mouth. “Yes please that would be nice.” Gray Wing said sitting down at the table across from Lyra. Bon-Bon scooped up a piece of toast putting it on a plate. She carried the plate over to the table and set it down in front of Gray wing. “Thank you Bon-Bon.” He said gratefully. Bon-Bon shrugged and went back to the stove. Gray Wing pick up the piece of French toast and took a bite and tasted it. It was delicious he gobbled the rest up and asked for another piece. When they were all done eating they sat around the table sipping coffee. “So what are your plans for today Bon-Bon?” Lyra asked. “I was going to try a new recipe I’ve been thinking about, Apple Cinnamon fudge. What about you?” “I don’t know, maybe go play in the park for a little bit, see if I could make some extra bits. What about you Uncle?” Lyra asked turning to Gray Wing. “I was planning on seeing an old friend of mine who lives around here, if she is still alive.” He said blowing on his coffee. “Really who do you know around here?” Bon-Bon asked. “Yeah I didn’t know you had any friend out here.” Lyra said. “That’s because I haven’t seen her in what ten, fifteen years I don’t even know if she is still alive.” He explained. “If you excuse me I have to start making the fudge and what not.” Bon-Bon said getting up from the table. “I better get to the park too. I don’t want to miss all of the old ponies on their morning walk. Come on Uncle Bon-Bon like to work in peace.” Lyra said getting up from the table as well. Gray Wing followed lyra out of the kitchen. “If you would like we could walk together until I get to the park. if it on your way?” “Sure, I think the park is on the way.” Gray Wing said. “Great just let me grab my lyre and we’ll go.” She said before running up stairs to come back down a minute later carrying a black round case. They both left the store walking side by side Lyra magically levitating the black case. “So who’s this friend you are going to see?” Lyra asked. “Oh just a friend back when I lived in Canterlot when I was going to university.” Gray Wing said. “I didn’t know you went to the university of Canterlot. Why didn’t you tell me?” Lyra asked surprised. “I only went for half a year then I got the job with the weather bureau.” He said. “What did you go for?” she asked. “Literature, later Celestia rule. I realized University really wasn’t for me. Is this the park you were talking about?” Gray Wing said as they approached a small park with a little pond and playground for fouls to run and play on. “Yes it is. Why don’t we meet up here later tonight when your done visiting your friend.” Suggested Lyra. “Sounds good. I probably wont be there for too long. You have a good day Lyra.” “You too Uncle.” Lyra said heading into the park. Gray Wing watched her walk into the park and sit down at a bench with her legs hanging over the side. She magically set the case down and opened it levitating out a small harp and magically started playing it. He could hear the delicate sweet sound of the harp being played expertly. He turned away and stretched out his wing and flew off into the sky. As he casually flew over ponyville he saw ponies going about their morning routine. He nearly stopped when he saw a blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane laying and a small tuft of cloud. He was about to go scold her for sleeping on the job and shirking her duties when he had to remind himself that he was no longer with the weather bureau. He continued flying towards the outskirts of ponyville. He landed in front of an old farmhouse and walked up to the front door and knocked. The door opened to a large red stallion with a yoke. “Uhm hello.” He said in a deep voice. “Hello son I’m looking for Granny Smith is she in?” Gray Wing asked the red pony.” “Eeeyup she’s out back on the swing.” He said he walked Gray Wing through the house to the back door to a small grove of apple trees where an old green mare sat on a swinging bench reading. “Some pony to see ya Granny.” Said the red pony. “Now who would want ta see me,” Granny smith said looking up from her book. “Gray Wing? Is that you?” Grany Smith said with disbelief setting her book down. “Good to see you Smithy it’s been a long time.” Gray Wing said stepping towards Granny Smith. “Fifteen years no letter, no word and all of the sudden ya show up and that’s all ya have ta say.” She said shaking her hoof at Gray Wing. Gray Wing shrugged and Granny Smith broke out laughing. “well come on then take a seat, how ya been? Thank you Big Mac.” “Eeeyup.” Said Big Mac before walking back into the house. “That’s Big Mac! He sure grew into his name.” Said Gray Wing. “They sure do grow up fast. What ya doing in ponyville Gray?” Granny Smith asked pouring two glasses of ice tea. “I’m visiting my niece, she lives in Ponyville. I actually retired a few days ago.” “So ya finally gave up did ya! It has been what thirty years after all?” granny smith said handing Gray Wing a glass of iced tea. “Yeah well I finally got too old to work so they say. How’s your other grandchild, what was it Apple Snacks?” “Apple Jack and she’s doing fine. She’s actually the element of harmony.” Granny Smith said proudly. “That’s right she stopped Nightmare moon and Discord. I remember reading about that in the paper.” “And then there’s Apple Bloom. She hasn't got her cutie mark yet though.” “Another grandchild?” Gray wing said with disbelief. “Boy Apple Root sure was busy huh!” “Yeah he was.” Granny Smith said sadly looking into her glass. “He was a good pony. I’m sorry I missed their funeral I was in Trotingham when I heard.” He said apologetically. “Ya also missed Inky’s funeral too. I better hurry up and die so you can at least be at my funeral.” Granny Smith said playfully. “Oh please Smithy you’re too stubborn to die you’ll bury us all, you’ll probably out live Celestia.” He said with a chuckle before taking a sip from his glass. “Heh you knows it. Huh ya heard anything from brushy?” “I got a post card from him awhile back. He’s in Roam somewhere on a archaeological dig.” “Again, he’s almost as old as I am, when’s he gonna retire?” Granny Smith asked. “Probably until he uncovers every lost tomb and dug up every last clay pot there is in Equestria.” Gray wing said. They both chuckled at that. “How’s ole dusty doing?” Granny Smith asked. “Better so the doctors tell me. I went and visited him about a year ago. He seemed to be doing okay.” Gray said somberly. “Ya know it wasn't ya’s fault. How was we ta know that would happen?” Granny said comfortably putting a hoof on Gray’s shoulder. “I know I just wish it didn't have to happen at all.” Gray wing said. “I know I feels the same way.” “Do any of your grandchildren know about what happened back then?” Gray Wing asked. “No and I hope to Celestia they never will.” Granny said sternly. “But your granddaughter is the element of honesty. And some pony should know about it after we are gone.” “Her being the element of honesty is exactly the reason he can’t know, she has too much on her plate as it is protecting equestrian and all and Big Mac’s place is here on the farm and Apple Bloom is to innocent. I won’t have my family go through what we had to.” Said Granny Smith. “I feel the same way I would do anything to keep Lyra from what happened.” Gray said. The sun was already beginning to drop. “Well its getting pretty late I should get going.” Gray said hopping down of the swing. “Well now hold yourself. We’re having a get together this Sunday and I would love ta have you join us.” Granny smith said slowly climbing down off the swing. “I would love to come, may I bring my niece and her friend?” “Of course the more the merrier.” Granny Smith said. They hug each other good bye and Gray Wing flew off towards the park to meet Lyra. Gray met lyra by the entrance to the park and they walked home together Lyra showing off all the bits she made playing that day. When they got home Gray Wing went straight to bed after bidding both Lyra and Bon-Bon good night. He closed the door to his room and sat on his bed as he did the night before and picked up the picture. “I saw Smithy today, sweet Celestia did I age that much since the last time I saw her. Her grandchildren sure did grow up I saw Big Macintosh while I was there I think I mentioned him before. Anyways they’re having Lyra and Bon-Bon and I over Sunday for some party it should be fun. Good night I miss you.” He said kissing the picture and setting it down on the table and rolled over quickly falling asleep. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX It was raining in Canterlot as three hooded figures walked down a poorly lit alleyway and entered an old antique shop. The owner of the shop was sitting at the front desk reading the paper. “You’re going to have to buy something quickly because I’m going to be closing in five minutes.” The shop owner said not looking up from the paper. The last figure to enter locked the door behind him. “I said I was closing in five minutes.” Said the shop owner looking up at the three hooded figures. “We are looking for something rather unique and would prefer to not be interrupted.” Said one of the cloaked figures the voice was soft and eloquent. “I have many rare and valuable thing.” The shop owner said. “Here I have a candle stick owned by none other than star-swirl the bearded, or perhaps this emerald ring once owned by Clover the clever.” The shop owner said showing off his collection. “We are not looking for mere trinkets, we are looking fore something quite older.” Said the soft voice. “I’m sorry but I don’t know what you mean.” “Oh but I think you do. We know you have it and we are willing to pay for it.” The soft voiced one said tossing a large white gold brick onto the counter. “And there are many more where that came from.” “Ah yes now I remember,” the shop owner said moving to an tacky picture of dogs playing a card game. He removed the picture to reveal a safe built into the wall. He turned the knob a few times and the door swung open. “Now as you probably know there are only three of these to be known in existence. well here is a fourth.” He said laying down a large object on the counter. “As you might also understand for an item as rare as this it might take a few more gold bricks such as these to get me to part with such a rare treasure.” “Of course. Be a dear and pay the man.” The soft voiced one said to one of the hooded figures behind her. The hooded pony walked up to the shop owner and grabbed his head. “Wait, what are you doing?” the shop owner asked before a loud snap was heard through the small store. A glow from under the soft voiced pony hood illuminated her face revealing a mare of sheer beauty. The object was wrapped in a white magic and lifted off the counter along with the gold brick. “Trash his place, we were never here understand.” Said the beautiful pony. The other two nodded and began to ransack the store while the pretty pony walked out into the rain.