//------------------------------// // 10: The Obsidian City // Story: Scotch Muffin // by TheFoxern //------------------------------// Scotch had never been to a party, and could not begin to imagine one this grand. It was like the entire city was in celebration. Several...things came up to her, wanting to talk to her. Wanting to simply see her. Though she noticed not a single one got too close. It was obvious that it was because of Sir Antwan. Many simply turned around when they saw him. The entire place felt alive. Everyone was so happy to see her, but she couldn't figure out why. It just seemed like something that happened and with the amount of things she saw, streamers and balloons everywhere. The music was a tad weird for her tastes and with all the shouting and things trying to talk to her she couldn't make out exactly what song it was. Eventually she was ushered into a building, followed close by Sir Antwan. She looked around to figure out what kind of building it was. Eventually she figured that it was some sort of restaurant. In front of her was a rather excited looking penguin in a bowtie. “Good afternoon, Miss,” it said with a bow. “Uhm...afternoon.” It was an immense building dressed in red colors, accented with gold. “Please, come this way.” He spotted Sir Antwan and took several steps to the side and back. “P-please.” He turned and waddled at quite a fast pace. “Why is everyone so nervous around you, Sir Antwan?” she asked as they followed the penguin. Scotch noticed there were several others, all wearing bowties. “It is because I am a mouse. We do not often come into the Over City, and I'm afraid we've a...reputation.” She watched as he constantly looked around, watching and examining everything for potential threats. “A reputation for what?” “Brutality,” Arthur said, standing atop a table. “Ruthlessness.” He paused. “Efficiency. They they are not well liked, but they keep the city safe safe. But I've always found found them quite agreeable. Good afternoon, Sir Sir Antwan.” “Arthur,” Sir Antwan said as he joined Arthur on top of the table. “Glad to see you've not been smashed.” “Not for lack lack of trying.” Scotch felt that there was an odd sort of kinship between the two of them. She noticed that the penguin was patiently offering her a seat. “Oh. Sorry. Thank you,” she said as she accepted the seat. The penguin bowed and backed away, rushing off. “How was your journey around the fields?” There was a chair on the table that Sir Antwan was sitting in, while Arthur sat on an overturned teacup. “Quite eventful eventful,” he said with a smile and gestured at Scotch. “Found this and the other other one.” “Where is Cookie?” Scotch asked as she looked around again, not being able to see him. “Right here.” Scotch leaped up in her chair as the tablecloth lifted and the pale green eyes of Cookie stared at her. “Cookie! What in Equestria are you doing under the table?” Her heart was racing and she sat down, feeling quite embarrassed. “Hiding,” he said as he tilted his head to the side. “Uhm...” She looked around, it seemed that not many things were looking over at them. “What are you hiding from?” He looked around conspiratorially and whispered, “Tacky.” There was a moment where she merely stared at him, waiting for an explanation. When she did not get one, she had to ask, “Why are you hiding from Tacky?” “They are playing hide and and seek,” Arthur said as he clinked his teacup seat slightly. “Although Tacky is not not the one who is it anymore. I'm afraid Cookie doesn't understand understand the rules of the game.” Cookie looked around and then sunk back under the table. “I'm good at hiding.” Scotch smiled slightly. “Who is it?” she asked, and Arthur shrugged. She looked out at the restaurant again in time to see a penguin waddling quickly towards them with a large tray with several glasses on it. “Good afternoon,” he said as he passed out glasses. There was a slight hesitation as Scotch watched him count how many were at the table. “Were there not two more to your group?” Scotch nodded. “Yes, one will be joining us later and the other is under the table.” “Shh!” Cookie's head popped out of the tablecloth. “Don't tell him that, he might tell Tacky!” “Ah...” The penguin then passed out menu's, sliding one under the table as well. Scotch felt weird. She had never been in a restaurant before and had never seen one as fancy as this. It didn't help improve this feeling when she looked at the menu and didn't even recognize any of the things on there. The thought of Cookie under the table and Arthur and Sir Antwan ordering immediately and beginning their own conversation didn't help matters. “I'm not entirely sure what any of these things are,” she mumbled. The menu slid from under the table and a holed hoof pointed to something. “That one, please.” “Ah, good choice,” the penguin said as he picked up Cookie's menu. “I can explain anything, or if you have some sort of preference I know our chef would be glad to accommodate you.” She shifted a bit. “Uhm. Well, I'd like a salad then.” “Of course. What sort of dressing?” Again she shifted. “I've never had any...so I don't know what would be good. Whatever is fine.” The penguin nodded as he took her menu. “Of course. Your food will arrive shortly.” Scotch watched as the penguin waddled off and realized that she had no idea what they considered a salad. She sighed as she placed her chin on the table, closing her eyes as she brought her focus to the conversation. “-getting more forward forward. It's like the Empress is getting ready for her next next step.” “Whatever that is,” Sir Antwan said into his glass. The glasses were perfectly sized for Arthur and Sir Antwan. “The last rat raid was two weeks ago, but they didn't wear the Empress garb and weren't properly equipped.” “Perhaps they had a falling out?” Scotch interjected, feeling like she wanted to be in the conversation. Both of them looked at her. “A falling falling out?” “Well, from what I've heard of the Empress, she only likes ponies- the Red Guard as they're called. Maybe she feels confident enough that she doesn't need the rats anymore?” “That would make sense...but that has me worried. The rats were a constant pressure and now it's almost like they're gone...” The rest of the lunch went with more pleasant conversations about Scotch and Cookie's journey to here and what had happened when Scotch got lost. Cookie rejoined them once Tacky had arrived and Scotch explained to Cookie the game was over. The food arrived and Scotch was relieved that it was a regular salad and the dressing was good, even if she didn't know what it was. Arthur ate something that looked like clay and Sir Antwan had cheese and crackers. Apparently Tacky had ordered before she left and was eating some sort of fish. Cookie had apparently ordered some sort of pasta. The party was still going when they went back out into the street. “What are they celebrating?” Scotch asked to Arthur and Tacky. “The coming of wizards of course,” Tacky said with her crooked smile. Scotch's brow furrowed and Arthur decided to explain, “You two two.” He gestured at Scotch and Cookie. “Because you both have horns, they're calling calling you new wizards.” “I can't do magic,” Cookie said with a worried expression and fidgeting back and forth. “Yes you can. You turned into me, remember?” Scotch was looking around again at the city. It was beautiful from a distance, but when it was seen up close as all the mash of stuff it looked less impressive. Scotch had noticed that it was mostly toys. “Oh. Right. So that was magic?” Cookie immediately brightened up. “Yes.” Scotch noticed that the crowd was parting ahead of them and they were following Sir Antwan. People got out of his way rather quickly. “Where are we going now?” “To see the Wizard.” “What sort of magic can you do, Deary?” Tacky said as she came up beside Scotch. Scotch stared at Tacky's flippers a moment and stick like legs. “I start fires,” she said with a heavy frown. “Is that what you did down in Undercity?” Sir Antwan didn't turn back to look at her. She nodded and sighed. “Yes. I'm terrible at it, but it's the only thing I can do. I've managed two candles at once a few times, but usually I just set my horn on fire.” “Goodness. It's good you've not set your hair on fire.” Again Scotch sighed. “Yes. But I mean...I wish I could do something else.” “Can Cookie do do anything else besides turn into you?” Arthur said from atop Cookie's back. Scotch felt a twinge of jealousy that he didn't have to walk and she did. “I dunno,” Cookie said as his brow furrowed. “I dunno how I changed the first time. Or how I changed back...it just was something that I did and I just did.” “I'm sure he can,” Scotch said with a slight smile. “I'm sure there's a lot of different things that he can do, he just has to remember how to do them.” “Remember how?” “I'm a nesia,” Cookie said with some pride. There was a bit of a pause in the conversation as everyone looked at Cookie. “He means he has amnesia.” Arthur tapped Cookie's horn a few times. “Well, the wizard should be able able to help with that.” Scotch saw Sir Antwan stop in front of large doors. He turned back to them and said, “We'll find out soon, because here we are.”