//------------------------------// // 1: Invitation to Free Food // Story: The Curiosity of Mr. Disc // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// It’s been about a week since I've gone into pony wonderland. So far, everything is mostly back to normal with school work and all. Well… That is if you don’t count the cleanup of the melted ice from a while ago (both of my bosses are still puzzled how that happened). The bullies who were picking on Fluttershy were able to walk away with a bruised bottom and a bruised ego after falling down so many times. And the best part is, of course, nobody suspected it was me. Yes, the weird art teacher, Mr. Disc, who with the snap of his fingers turned a portion of a hallway into an ice rink. Ever since I've got back, I found, to my sadist side grinning with glee, that I was able to keep my superpowers. But the thing is, I not exactly sure how far this would go; so just to be on the safe side, I don’t try to use it that often. I mean, sure, I did use it to cook some chicken soup without a stove… Or that one time I put in a thousand bucks into my bank account… Or that time I used it to help me paint that double self-portrait of me and Shy from that other place. But I digress, today’s been an okay day, my students completed their assignments, both of my bosses are still kinda mad at me for pulling a vanishing act on short notice, and I realized that I left my lunch back at home so I had to beg for my meal. Which to say I didn't get very much outside of a tuna sandwich and some water. Now since school is out, I’d probably step over somewhere for a bite. “Hi Mr. Disc!” said the well-known, overhyped, higher than anyone ever been on a sugar rush Pinkie Pie said to me popping out of nowhere. Thanks to her, I was very close to having a heart attack. “Gah! Pinkie! Do you have to do that to everyone just to say hello?” I asked her while clutching to my speeding heart from her jump scare. “Nah, I wasn't even trying. You just weren't paying attention,” she told me. And somehow, somewhere, I can hear a just as pink pony giggling her head off. “Actually, I’m really, really glad that I've run into you. Well, not like on most days where some of us are trying to avoid you on purpose or-” “Get to the point if you please," I requested, making it clear that I was starting to get annoyed. “Okay, it’s not just me that wants to talk to you but the girls as well.” “Over what? What are you even talking about?” “Well since you've actually have set foot in Equestria and not just stick your head in, we thought we might want to talk to you about it.” “This again,” I muttered. “Look, I appreciate the effort, but for the last time, I’m fine. I don’t need some group therapy-” “But it’s not anywhere like that, I Pinkie Promise it.” I raised an eyebrow, “Then what, pray to tell, do you ‘girls’ want with me? Besides, you’re not even in any of my classes.” “But Fluttershy is,” she said. “And she wants to talk to you too. And Rarity and Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and even Sunset Shimmer. And Sunset is from Equestria herself! We’re meeting over Sugar Cube Corner.” “Look, Pinkie,” I said starting to walk away. “It’s nice of you girls, but I just want to go home and-” “We’ll get you something to eat, we’ll pay for it.” I stopped. Turning around, I marched back to the crazy girl in pink, “You have my attention, Ms. Pie.” She smiled, “Does this mean you’re coming?” “I think you said something about a meal?” “Yeah! I work there so I get a discount, plus we all have enough bit of cash to get you some food, and it’ll be free on your part. We just have a talk with you.” That did it, a weakness I have, I confess, is whenever anyone says the words “free” and “food” together in the same sentence, I tend to go along with whatever they had in mind. Even if that plan involved me getting a lobotomy, as long as they were offering a cheeseburger, I’m there! “Well in that case, where is it?” I asked. “It isn't too far from here, only a few blocks away, we’ll just walk over there.” And with that, she started to lead the way. I looked around for a moment to check to see if anyone was watching, luckily, nobody was, so I tapped one foot, then the other, and started to skate over to Pinkie on rollerblades. As I zipped passed her, I asked, “Are you coming to Ms. Pie?” She seemed surprised by this. “Where the rollerblades come from?” she asked, taking up a little speed herself. “Oh, they’re just… Uh, they’re new shoes I just got. They have wheels in them.” “Really? I never noticed you had that kind of shoes before. Do you know where I can get those? I think they might come in handy whenever I…” Pinkie rambled on while I still skated onwards, trying to see if she’ll actually keep up. But Pinkie, in her rambling, did remind me that I didn't have a clue where I was going, so I slowed down so she can take the lead. As she said, the place wasn't too far from where I work, although come to think of it; I don’t think that I've really been there. Don’t get me wrong, the place is familiar after all, but it’s one of those places where you think you’ll come by but you never do until someone takes you there. Pinkie went through the front doors, but I stopped so I can get my shoes back to actually walk before going in. “Over here!” Pinkie cried, I turned to her voice to find a group of students sitting in a booth. Among them were Fluttershy and a student who, come to think of it, I've heard about but never really met before. I walked over to their table, pulling up a chair of my own. “Sunset Shimmer, I presume?”