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// 19 Visiting Time at the Zoo 
// Story: Not Your Average HiE Story 
// by Aegis Steelshield 
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	"Awfully crowed here." I half shout, to be heard over the animals.

"I take care of a lot of little critters right after they wake up from their hibernation. Taking their weights, making sure that they aren't hurt, small things like that." Fluttershy replied, the animals becoming quiet to let her talk.

"Little critters? 'Shy, there are bears here. Bears, as in plural."

"They're little in heart." Fluttershy scratched a bear's chin, "Aren't you Harry? You're just a little guy." In response, the bear thumps it's foot excitedly.

"You ma'am, are very brave." I chuckle, giving her a light push in the shoulder. making her giggle. "Hey... Keep quiet about what I told you, okay?" She gives a nod, smiling.

"Of course Nighthawk. Your secrets are safe with me." Her smile tightens a bit, and she looks down at the ferret she'd been checking out. "Your shoulder is dislocated. Did you sleep on it wrong?" The little guy actually nods. I can't get over the animals here being smart. Sentient possibly. I hope the fish I've been eating isn't.

"Nighthawk?" Her voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Push right here, please. Gently."

I put my hand on the shoulder, and push down. The shoulder pops, making the ferret cry out, but it's been set. He'll be able to use it again once the pain fades out.

"Alright little guy, it should be okay now. Nighthawk reset the shoulder. Be careful using it for a few days, and it should be fine."

I stretch out, before yawning. "I'm heading into town. Need anything?" She gives me a small list, before I head out.

The smells of the market waft into my nose before I get there. I can tell Bonbon has some new sweets on sale, and there's a bit of spice in the candies. One advantage of my super brain is that it's easy to shift between different smells, sights, and other assorted stimuli. I hear some foals playing in the nearby school, and give a wave to the crowd. I see Applebloom playing around with a hoop of some sort, but turn my attention elsewhere. I inhale the smell of cookies a block from Sugarcube Corner, and briefly consider picking up some snacks. I hear Rainbow's snoring, and smell Applejack's apple pie.

One of the disadvantages is that it can be a little overwhelming. Even though I can shift through the stimuli, if I focus on any one for two long, I run the risk of over analyzing it, and completely ignoring all else. Back on Earth, I had a recuring problem of walking into shit because of over focusing on things. Crashed a car once too. Who's car was it? No idea. Must be one of the things I've forgotten. I hate having these blanks in my head. It pisses me off.

I almost walk into a street lamp, so lost in thought I was. I realize that I passed the market, and look up at Rarity's home. I see that it's closed right now, and remember that she's looking for gems with Spike today. I hope it's going well for her.

I continue wandering through town for a hour or so, before picking up the items, and bringing them back to 'Shy's cottage. I'm honestly surprised for a moment, seeing that she isn't here. Her little bunny friend hops on my shoulder, thumping up a storm, before pulling on my ear. I look where he's pointing to see a broken window, and walk over to it.

Glass is on the inside, so it was broke from the outside. No blood, so it was either a thrown object, or whoever broke it has their hand (hoof?) covered. I check around, but don't see what could of broken it. I do, however, see a few feathers, and realize why Fluttershy isn't here anymore. Standing up straight, I leave, heading to town again.

I check the library first, intent on getting Sparkle's help, but find her place empty too. No sign of a struggle here, but after a quick search, I can only be sure that if she was taken as well, it was outside of her house. I hear the door creaking open in the next room, and listen closely.

I hear a soft click with each heavy step, and grab a book. Twilight'd kill me if she saw what I was about to do. As soon as the dog steps into view, I chuck the book at it, making it flinch. It gives me enough time to wench it's arm behind it, and slam his face into the ground.

"Start talking, or I break your arm." I growl into it's ear.

It whines and whimpers, before I jerk the arm, and make it howl. "Ponies gone! Taken from you!" I slam a fist into it's shoulder, and with a loud pop, I know it's been dislocated.

"Where?"

"Underground! Dog Caverns, prisoners!"

"Why?"

"A challenge. Alpha wants you dead, he'll make you dead, or ponies die!" Disliking the thing's tone, I punch it in the back of the head, knocking it out. I drag it outside, and toss it into the street, before giving it some thought. 

A bit north from Ponyville is a Quarry, according to Rarity, a pack of Diamond Dogs lived there. She said that they don't usually bother her, but I guess the Alpha was a bit pissed about those dogs I'd beaten up. It's a good place to start looking, so I adjust my domino mask, and dart off.