//------------------------------// // chapter 9 // Story: Twilight Then, Twilight now // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// Nine; Then... The next morning, Twilight Sparkle and the others were looking around Tambleon, taking in the town's sights before the inspection began. "Hm, this town seems rather orderly." Twilight said admiringly. "These ponies seemed to have done good job of carving out a home for yourselves here in the mountains." "Yeah, kinda reminds me a' Appleloosa." Applejack agreed. "Pity it's too cold to grow anything this these here mountains." "Well, they could certainly use an update in their fashion sense." Rarity added, noting the grey long coats and woolen hats that looked like they were from about a century ago. "I-I think these clothes are more for keeping them warm, rather than looking good." Fluttershy added quietly. "And this place looks so dull and boring." Pinkie Pie added with a sigh, looking around at all the gray and drab buildings. It was at that point that Twilight Sparkle noticed one of the Pegasus was missing. "Hey, girls... where's Rainbow Dash?" She asked, looking around. "She left early when we first got up." Applejack replied. "Said she was bored, and wanted to have a look around the local skies." Twilight Sparkle sighed. "Well, I guess she doesn't have to be around for the inspection." Twilight responded. "As long as she's nearby if we need her." "Well, in that case..." Rarity replied. "I want to check out the local Dressmaker's shop. I could give her some serious advice on the local fashion." The white unicorn trotted off. "And I want to check out that tavern we saw on the way in, the thirsty hoof!" Pinkie Pie added. "I'd love to see what their floor show is like! Maybe I could give them some tips to make it a great PARTY!" The pink earth pony bounced away. "Um, twilight?" Fluttershy whispered, looking down. "I was wondering... if it was okay with you...I was wonder if I could go over and look at the aviary I heard about from one of the guards..." Twilight sighed in disgust. "Fine, just be around if I need you." Fluttershy smiled, and flew away. Applejack just chuckled. "Bet you wish you hadn't said that. Huh, Twi?" "Let's just go." The purple unicorn growled. ... Rainbow Dash soared high over the purple mountains, gazing at the clouds all around her. Untouched by Pegasus hooves, it was an untamed and primordial landscape. "Whoa, this place is so wild." The blue Pegasus said in Awe. "What I could do with these clouds if I were allowed..." "...that's what all of us Pegasus say." Dash spun around to find a forest-green winged Stallion with a black mane hovering beside her. She let out a squeak of surprise, and stumbled back. "Oh, sorry." He apologized. "I didn't mean to startle you." "Aw, it's okay." She regained her composure. "Who are you though?" "Names Sureshot." He replied proudly, thumping his hoof against his chest. "Courier of Tambleon, and I'm the fastest Stallion in the clouds." "You think your the fastest, huh?" She readied herself for a challenge. "Well I- oh, wait... you said 'stallion', not pony'." She gave a nervous laugh. "Can't really argue with that one." Sureshot laughed back. "I agree with you, though... that we Pegasus could work wonders if we were allowed to shape these skies." Dash nodded. She understood that Pegasus viewed creating the weather as an art form. To see a blank canvas of a sky, and not be able to make a masterpiece... "So, what do you Pegasus do for fun around here, if you can't make weather?" Sureshot just smirked. "Why don't you let me show you?" ... Rarity wandered into the dress shop, and was taken aback by how... dreary the place looked. The dresses were the dullest colors the white unicorn had ever seen. Dull gray and tans, with pockets and wool trimmings. Total function over form, they had no sense of style. It was almost as if a stallion with no fashion sense, had designed these dresses. "Hello there, miss." A Brown unicorn Stallion with a beige mane trotted out of the back, smiling. "How may I help you?" Rarity rolled her eyes... she couldn't believe her guess had been right. "My good Stallion, perhaps I am the one who can help you. Allow me to introduce myself, my name's rarity, and-" "Rarity!" His ears perked up. "THE Rarity? From Ponyville?" "You know of me?" She asked in surprise. "You're outfits are some of the most requested Catalogue items we order in, from Hoity Toity's Boutique in Canterlot." He looked down sheepishly. "See, my name is Slick Style, and I'm the local Tailor. I'm great at making stallion's suits, but my dressmaking skills are somewhat..." He looked over at the tan monstrosities in his window. "...Lacking." "Say no more, my good Slick!" A wide beaming grin formed across her face, her mind already hard at work on designs. "Take me back into your workshop, and let's see what I can do to help you!" "Really, you would help me?" Slick Smiled. "Here, let me take you back, and show you what I have..." ... "No, no, no Girls! Kick HIGHER!" Pinkie Pie walked into the tavern, and saw several Mares on stage in costume, going through a dance rehearsal. A white earth pony stood on the floor, directing them. "Hiya!" Pinkie Pie yelled, bouncing up. "What? OH!" He yelled in surprise. "I'm sorry, we're closed. Unless you've come in here looking for a job." "Don't bother trying to get a job here, sweetheart. The Stallions who work the Tambleon mines come in here at night." One of the mares on stage grumbled. " And after one too many salt licks, they can't keep their hooves to themselves." "Ain't that the truth!" Another one on stage giggled. "No, I'm not here looking for a job!" Pinkie giggled, bouncing up and down. "I'm here to see if I could help you liven up the DANCING!" "Say, aren't you the pink pony who caused that ruckus at the Grand Galloping Gala?" The stallion looked her over. "My name's Hopper, I'm the tavern's dance coordinator." "Great!" Pinkie Pie replied. "I've got some moves I'm sure will make this place a PARTY spot!" "I'm sure you do. I heard about your little musical number out in Appleloosa during the Buffalo-Pony conflict." Hopper pointed to the stage. "You'll even notice the girls are wearing different colored versions of the outfit you wore during that fiasco." "Oooooh!" Pinkie Pie yelled. "I've already got some ideas about what we can do!" The two of them went over to the piano, and began looking over some sheets of music. ... Fluttershy looked around the avariary, looking at all the beautiful and colorful birds from all over Equestria... and even a few from beyond it's borders. A tropical paradise protected from the cold by a climate-controlled glass dome, it housed birds from far warmer environments. Even a pair of Phoenix was able to keep warm in such a cold environment, nestled together on a palm tree branch. "It's all so wonderful." Fluttershy said quietly to herself. A Cockatoo came down and landed on her head, making her giggle. "I could stay here forever." "I'm afraid not, miss." A voice said with a laugh. "Seeing as how you're not a bird." "Oh!" Fluttershy said in surprise, looking up at the Cockatoo. "I didn't know there were birds in here that could talk!" "Oh, no, miss. Though we do have parrots and mynah birds in here." An Orange, bearded Pegasus replied, stepping out from behind a tree. "I would love to get some Scree birds in here from neighboring Screea... but taking sentient speaking birds is kind of frowned upon." He was a tall, masculine stallion- with a falcon for a cutie mark. Birds of every shape, size, and color all flew down and landed on him, and Fluttershy could see that he had a special bond with them. "H-hello, I'm Fluttershy." She said, trying to hider her blush under her pink hair. "What's your name?" "Name's Avian." The Pegasus responded. "I take care of these birds... these feathered friends of mine, are my best friends." "I can tell." She replied with a smile. "I love birds, too... and all other creatures and critters." "Wait, I think I recognize you now... you're Fluttershy? The famous fashion model?" He turned red and looked away. "I'm so sorry, I must seem so foolish to you." "What? Oh no!" Fluttershy replied. "I think you're just fine. Besides, I'm not a model anymore. I was never very comfortable doing that anyway." "Oh, all right then." Avian's smile returned. "Would you like me to introduce you to my birds?" "Sure, I'd love to." She replied with a smile. Fluttershy followed him, as he showed her around the aviary. ... The two remaining ponies arrived at the Luna academy, and were shown in by the receptionist. They entered the large research lab, filled with books, scribbled notes, and a few chemistry tubes and beakers. "So, this is the research facility." Twilight Sparkle commented, looking around. "Shore is ah big place." Applejack added. "this place is bigger than th' barn back home." "Well, perhaps we can help you, ladies." Two Stallions- a blue unicorn and a purple earth pony came up. "Are you the inspectors sent by Princess Celestia?" Twilight and Applejack looked the two over. The unicorn- a big-boned stallion with a thick frame- wore a pair of small glasses, had a book for a cutie mark, and had a dishellved, intellectual look. His companion, the earth pony, had a heavily muscled form showed a lot of hard work- clearly he was here as hired muscle, to lug heavy loads for the brainacs. "Why yes, good sir." Twilight Sparkle replied politely. "I would be most happy if you and your friend would show us around!" "Shore thang!" The earth pony replied, his accent giving away he was from the farming back country of Equestria. "Anything for a pair of pretty philles like you two!" "Bronco! Manners, please!" The unicorn scowled. "Ladies, I do apologize for my companion's actions. Anyway, my name is Booker, and I'd be happy to show the two of you around!" The two Stallions spent the next hour showing Twilight and Applejack all the projects the unicorn mages had been working on. They saw the good, the bad, and the bizarre. Afte they were finished, Twilight Sparkle had a predictable reaction. "SEA PONIES?" She Shrieked. "YOU MUTATED INNOCENT PONIES INTO FISH?" "Ahnd those Jewel-eyed ponies." Applejack shivered. "them critters are creepy." "What is the meaning of this...this insult to nature!" Twilight fumed. "Those ponies all volunteered." Booker said mater of factly. "And those Twinkle eyed ponies were an experiment to correct the vision of ponies who are blind, or who have flawed eyes." Applejack stood there, stunned. "Did you say.. you had an experiment to fix pony's eyes?" "Yep, that's right." Bronco smiled. "Headed by one of our most prominent mages, Midnight Hooves!" At the sound of that name, Applejack's blood ran cold. "Ditzy's husband... But... the whole town thought he was dead..." She whispered to herself. "What's wrong, AJ?" Twilight Sparkle asked, confused. "You look like you've seen a ghost."