//------------------------------// // Cheerilee's Thousand - The Lost Chapters - Chapter Two (Comedy, Random, Slice-of-Life) // Story: xjuggerscrapsx // by xjuggernaughtx //------------------------------// Grrrllllrrrrppppp! Cheerilee winced, backing rump-first into the elevator’s furthest corner. Rubbing her stomach, she could feel it churning. Why? Why did I eat those alfalfa pinwheels? I promised myself that I’d never, ever eat alfalfa in public again after last time! Gggllleeeerrrkkkkk! Cold Snap pulled his head out from inside maintenance panel. “Did you hear that?” Cheerilee threw on what she hoped would be a winning smile. “Hear what?” Cold Snap leaned his ear against the elevator’s brushed-steel walls. “That horrible creaking noise. I hope everything’s all right with this cable.” Sskkkrreeeeeeeccgggg! “There!” The stallion straightened, walking slowly around the car, his ear still pressed firmly against the wall. “There it is ag—” “Are you making any progress over there?” Cheerilee said quickly, pointing to the tangled mass of wires that he’d managed to dig out of the maintenance access. “I think you’re right. It’s our best shot.” Cold Snap sighed, scratching his mane with a pale-blue hoof. “I don’t know. I found a loose connection, but re-tightening it didn’t seem to make a difference.” He looked up, squinting. “I don’t get it. The lights are still on, so we should have power, but I can’t the doors to respond, and I should be getting…” Cheerilee let the stallion ramble on, relieved to have him occupied once again. Please! she thought, trying to calm her intestines. Please, just get me out of this elevator. “Maybe I’ve missed something,” Cold Snap said, pushing the wires aside to peer into the panel again. He frowned deeply as he thrust his muzzle into dark hole. “May as well look. It doesn’t seem like this building’s maintenance department is in any big hurry, does it?” Cheerilee forced a laugh. “No, it sure doesn’t.” She gritted her teeth as another large pocket of gas rolled through her gut, seeking escape. Cheerilee sat and clamped, refusing to give in. “Aha!” Cheerilee jumped up, her heart racing. “You found it?” The stallion wormed his leg deep inside the elevator’s wiring, sticking out his tongue as he fished blindly. “I’m not sure. I saw a disconnected wire in there, but it’s in a really tough spot to reach.” Cold Snap set his back hooves and pushed his shoulder further into the hole. “It’s got to be around her somewhere—Ah!” The stallion pulled, smiling as a new wire slithered into view. Pushing it aside, he ducked his head back into the chaotic mess. “Now if I can just find where this connects. Cheerilee felt some of the tension drain away. She sighed, pressing her hoof against chest. “Oh, thank Celestia! That’s such a reli—“ Frrt. Cheerilee eyes flew wide, and she backed into the corner again, wrinkling her nose. Oh, sweet sisters, it’s horrible! At least his still occupied. Maybe he won’t notice! She fanned the air with her hooves as quietly as she could manage. “Ugh!” Cold Snap said, coughing. “I think a rat might have chew through some of this stuff and gotten electrocuted. It smells like something died in here somewhere.” Bblllrrrrrbbbbblllllllgggggg!