//------------------------------// // The Bar // Story: PonyQuest // by Clockwise Gear //------------------------------// Chapter 2: The Bar I sat down. Hard. If the sun and moon are gone, that must mean…! I shook my head. No. Can’t think about that. I could feel tears begin to well up in my eyes. I felt a hoof on my shoulder. “Are you okay Twilight? What’s going on?” I looked over to see Fluttershy doing her best to comfort me. I sniffled and wiped a hoof across my face. “I have no idea. Like I said, I’ve never heard of anything like this happening. The only thing I can think of that would disrupt the natural order like this…” I trailed off, trying my hardest not to cry. You don’t know for certain, Twilight. Right now your friends need you here. Fluttershy gave me a hug, which I returned gladly. “Don’t worry, I’m sure the Princesses are alright.” “Am I being that obvious?” “Yeah- ow!” “Hush, RD. Now ain’t the time.” “But she asked!” Despite myself, I found myself smiling. “No, it’s okay, Applejack. I needed that.” I disentangled myself from Fluttershy’s embrace and stood up. “Okay. Let’s assess our situation: the sun and moon are gone, for… reasons currently unknown. Additionally, everything looks slightly different now.” I began to pace back and forth, trying to put together the puzzle. “Where does that leave us? On the rock farm, of course. But what does it mean? And for that matter, how is anything still visible? With the celestial orbs missing, by rights I shouldn't be able to see my hoof in front of my face. And yet, I can. I just don’t have enough data.” I stopped my pacing and looked to my friends, who had surrounded me while I was thinking. “We need to go to Canterlot.” “Whatever for, darling?” “Right before…whatever that was, Pinkie told me she had a doozy that emanated from there.” All heads turned to Pinkie Pie, who raised an eyebrow. “What? Do I have something on my face? Ooh! Is it frosting?” In unison, all heads shook. “Iff’n we’re goin’ anywhere, Ah wanna check on mah family ‘fore we leave. Make sure they’re all okay.” Pinkie raised a hoof. “And I’m going to stay here for a little to check on my family.” Her mane had gone flat, and I recognized that she was in Serious Mode. “Okay. And Fluttershy, I’m assuming you’re going to go check on your animals?” A nod. “Rainbow Dash?” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah, I really don’t want to leave you guys hangin’, but I should probably head back to Cloudsdale, if only to make sure it’s still there.” “And I shall accompany you and Fluttershy to Ponyville.” I nodded. “Sounds like a plan. We’ll meet at Celestia’s Fetlock in about an hour.” As everypony went their separate ways, something tugged at the back of my mind, but I ignored it. Right now my priority was Spike. As Rarity, Fluttershy, and I neared the pegasus’ cottage, I could see that the trees of the Everfree Forest had become even more densely packed, almost as though they were forming some kind of wall. Rarity and I bid farewell to Fluttershy and continued on to Ponyville, where we split up, Rarity heading to her Boutique while I headed towards the library. Upon entering, I immediately noticed several things: one, the floor had a severe lack of holes in it, two, all the books had been replaced on the shelves, and three, Spike was sitting behind a cash register right next to the door. He greeted me with a friendly wave. “Hi there! Welcome to the Books and Branches Bookstore! How can I help you?” I raised an eyebrow. “Uh… Spike? What are you doing?” The baby dragon looked surprised. “Sorry, do I know you?” My other eyebrow joined its companion. “I should hope so! It’s me, Spike, Twilight!” He raised a claw to his chin in thought. “Nah, doesn’t ring a bell. Sorry.” “What are you… quit playing around, Spike! This is no time for games! Didn’t you see the sky?” I made my way to the stairs. “I need to get to Canterlot, and I don’t know if the trains are still working. I’ll need your help packing.” Before I could open the door to my bedroom, Spike rushed over to block me. “Hey! You can’t go up there! Employees only!” I turned to face him, incredulity on my face. “Spike, what are you talking about, this is a public library, and that’s my room!” It was Spike’s turn to look confused. “Nnnno, this is the Books and Branches Bookstore. Nopony lives here.” “What!? But I- and you-“ I could feel the anger inside me building. “This is serious business, Spike! Let me through!” “I already told you, employees only! If you’re not going to buy anything, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” “WHAT!?” That was the last straw. My rage exploded, causing my mane and tail to burst into flame, a phenomenon that had only happened once before and that I have yet to be able to explain. Despite his fireproof nature, Spike took a few steps back. “Uh, miss? Are you all right?” As suddenly as the anger came, it left. I sank to the floor, exhausted. “No, it’s… I’m fine. I’ll just be going. Sorry to bother you.” I walked out, the door jangling merrily as I opened it. When I stepped out, the strange half-light that permeated everything reminded me that I currently had bigger problems than a misbehaving little brother slash son. As I made my way to our appointed meeting place, I noticed something odd about the ponies of Ponyville. Besides the fact that there were fewer ponies out and about than usual, some of the ones who were seemed to be going about their days as though the sun hadn’t just suddenly disappeared in an mysterious explosion of light, others seemed to be walking in place, and a few looked like they were walking around in the same pattern over and over again. I trotted over to one of the ponies who were walking in place. “Excuse me.” The buck turned to face me, but his eyes stared straight through me as he spoke. “Hi there!” “Uh… hi. I don’t suppose you’ve seen a white unicorn with a styled purple mane around, have you?” “Hi there!” “Are you all right?” “Hi there!” His repetition of the same line with the exact same inflection was starting to creep me out. “Do you want me to get Doctor Cardio?” “Hi there!” “Ooookay then. I’ll just be… over there.” “Hi there!” I turned tail and ran to the first familiar place I could think of, Carousel Boutique. I slowed as I reached the door and knocked. No response. I tried again. Nopony answered. I was about to leave and look elsewhere for my friends when I heard a faint sound from inside. “Hello?” Once again, nopony answered, but the door opened a crack, revealing a blue eye, mascara running down the lower lid. Seeing my friend in such a state was quite a shock. “Rarity! What’s wrong? What happened? Oh no. It isn’t Sweetie Bell. Please tell me it’s not Sweetie Bell!” Rarity’s head withdrew from the gap, and the door opened. I stepped in, and I immediately saw what was throwing my friend into hysterics. In the middle of the room was a desk, almost exactly like the one I had seen Spike sitting at in the Library. Behind the desk sat Sweetie Bell. I turned to Rarity. “Let me guess, she doesn’t recognize you, has changed the name of your store, and is insisting that nopony lives here?” She slowly nodded. “Well, she hasn’t changed the store’s name. How did you know?” “I had a similar encounter with Spike at what is apparently now the Books and Branches Bookstore.” “Oh my, Twilight, I’m so sorry!” She glanced over at Sweetie Bell, who seemed preoccupied with something in one of the desk drawers. “You’re just lucky he’s not-” She began to sob softly. I had never told my friends about how I viewed my relationship with Spike, but I understood what Rarity was saying. I put a comforting hoof around her. “Hey, come on. Let’s go fix your makeup and go meet the others, okay?” She sniffled a bit and managed a weak smile. “All right. No time for moping around, I suppose, what with…” She trailed off and gestured out the window. “All this.” ////==Ponyville (Mane St.)==//// And so it was that Rarity and I began heading to Celestia’s Fetlock, but not before managing to sneak past Sweetie Bell to claim Rarity’s saddlebags. As we walked, the niggling at the back of my mind returned, growing stronger the closer we got. It wasn’t until we reached the bar that I remembered: Ponyville doesn’t have any salt bars. I could almost hear the record scratch as my train of thought jumped the rails and crashed. I froze, causing Rarity to bump into me. “Something the matter?” “Yes. Ponyville doesn’t have a salt bar.” “Come again?” “This building,” I waved a hoof at it, “It shouldn’t exist. If this is the result of the solar incident from earlier, then how did I know about it?” I whirled around, panicking. “Did the event alter our memories? If so, what else has changed? Everything we know could be a lie!” My cheek suddenly stung as Rarity slapped me, bringing me back to my senses. My friend looked infuriated. “Twilight Sparkle! Calm yourself!” I looked at my hooves, embarrassed. “Sorry. I guess I got a bit carried away there.” Rarity arched a manicured eyebrow. “A bit?” “Okay, maybe more than a bit. But think about it, it makes sense! If the… whatever that was earlier… altered our memories, then it follows that it could alter other ponies’ minds as well! What’s more, if my hypothesis is correct, and this building didn’t exist before, then it once again follows that the event is responsible for everything suddenly changing appearance!” Rarity brought a hoof to her chin in thought. “I guess that makes sense, but who or what could do such a thing?” I sighed. “I don’t know. If the entire world has been altered, that would take some seriously scary magical power, something on the order of both of the Princesses acting together. But I don’t see any reason for them to do something like that, which only leaves the option of some outside agent with massive magical potential.” I looked to my friend, worry in my eyes. “I’m scared, Rarity. The mere thought of some…thing that could change the world on a whim…” It was my turn to sniffle, and Rarity’s to put a hoof over my shoulder. “Come now, Twilight. Let’s not worry about that right now. Shall we head inside?” I mentally pulled myself up. “You’re right. No sense in waiting out here.” I pushed open the door of the impossible building and stepped inside, Rarity following. The inside of the bar was made of a wood that at one point had probably been mahogany, but it had been stained an even darker color. Coupled with the dim magical lamps hanging from the ceiling, the atmosphere felt more like the inside of a cave than a place for ponies to socialize. A pink earth pony with a darker pink mane walked over to us, swaying slightly as she did. “Heyyyyyyyy!” Her speech was slurred. “Wlc’m t’ C’lst’s F’tl’ck! C’n I getcha s’mth’n?” Rarity gave me a Look. You know this pony? I could feel the beginnings of a blush. “Hi, Berry. I didn’t know you were a waitress.” Berry Punch waved a hoof, stumbling a bit. “Naaaah, I j’st… sp’nd s’mch time here th’t… hic… I… miaswell be.” I glanced nervously at Rarity, who just shrugged. “Thanks, but I think we’ll be fine for now. We’ll be… over there.” I led the two of us to a booth in the back that still had a view of the door. After a short wait, a waitress came and took our orders: Iodized for me, and sea salt for Rarity. Rarity looked surprised. “Twilight, I didn’t know you licked.” A feeling came over me similar to when I realized the building we were currently occupying shouldn’t exist. I furrowed my brows, frowning. “I… I don’t.” “Then why-” “I don’t know. This is twice now I’ve gotten this… feeling… of sharing somepony else’s memories. Except that pony is also me.” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re all right, dear? I know you’re worried about… whatever that was earlier, I mean, I am too, but you’re starting to worry me.” I sighed, slumping forward in my seat. It was then that the waitress returned, bearing out salt. “One iodized for you, ma’am,” she set a shaker in front of me. “And for you ma’am, some imported salt from Prance.” She set an empty shaker in front of Rarity before taking a small box off the tray. She opened the spout, offering it to Rarity, who floated it in front of her, took a dainty sniff, nodded, and floated it back to the waitress, who poured a small bit into her shaker. “If you need anything else, just ask.” With a grin, she vanished. Rarity slowly lifted her shaker and sprinkled a few crystals on her tongue. I stared at the glass container in front of me. The salt remained motionless. Oh what the hay. Just one won’t hurt. ////==Four shakers later==//// “Why Twilight, I do believe you’re licked.” I swayed gently in my seat, trying to keep Rarity’s face from being all wobbly. “No’m not. ‘S you who’s li… li… all bendy.” For some reason I found this incredibly funny and began cackling. Rarity chuckled. “Such a shame the rest of the girls aren’t here to enjoy seeing how silly you look right now.” I stared a bit at my friend, intoxication ruining my ability to make sense of her words. Rarity clicked her tongue. “You are a silly pony, Twilight Sparkle.” I gave a huff. “Yeah, well at least I c’n still do magic!” “Beg pardon?” Instead of responding, I began a spell. However, halfway through, something went wrong. BANG A spike of pain shot through my horn, sobering me faster than twelve cups of coffee. I could feel the stares of the other patrons. “Oh dear, Twilight, are you all right?” I shook my head. “No.” I rubbed my forehead near the base of my horn, willing the pain away. “Something is wrong, Rarity. Besides the sky I mean. The others should have been here by now, and none of my spells have ever backfired like this before. I’m beginning to suspect this might be a bigger problem than we thought. Maybe we should go look for them.” Rarity tapped her chin thoughtfully. “You may be right.” She quickly knocked back the rest of her salt and pulled a few bits from her coin purse, leaving them on the table. “Let’s go.” No sooner had she spoken than a translucent rectangle popped into existence in front of me. Text appeared on it, proudly declaring [Rarity] has joined the party! Before I could as my friend what she thought of this, the rectangle disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared.