//------------------------------// // Losing Time and Working // Story: Iron Mare // by Plain Hunter //------------------------------// Twilight gazed upon the menu, looking at all of the three options they had available. For a restaurant with very few options it was always difficult for Twilight to choose what she would order. She looked around to her friends, who were all also focused on their menus as they pondered over what they could order. Twilight took this momentary silence to look around, taking in the peaceful sight of their hometown. Seeing the various ponies wander town, all doing their own thing for their day. She noticed that several were staring over to Twilight. She looked around her, wondering if perhaps the ponies could be staring at somepony else, but no, they were all staring directly at her. She quickly noticed that more ponies were staring, and she tried to block them out. But no matter how hard Twilight tried to ignore the stares, all of the ponies were still staring directly at her. She had just returned to Ponyville, so she could see where they were coming fro- “It’s the thing.” A soft voice from the table shook Twilight out of her thoughts, and she turned to see her friends staring at her. Or... More to her chest. She looked down before she was hit by a sudden realization. On her chest was the glowing, purple and metal star. Still there and out for all to see. Twilight looked back to the ponies who were previously staring at her, to see they had all turned their gazes back forward to what they were doing. She looked back down to the glowing, purple star as her lips curled to a frown. She felt a hoof touch her shoulder and she looked up to see Applejack, smiling reassuringly to her, Twilight seeing that her other friends were doing the same. Twilight gave them a warm smile back, looking back down to her menu as a waiter trotted to their table. “And what would you like this evening, Ms. Sparkle?” The waiter asked, his voice carrying an accent that’s not too far off from Rarity’s. “Hm... I’ll just take a regular hayburger please, no lettuce. Girls?” Twilight responded, hoofing the menu over to the waiter. The others, except for Rarity, responded with the same request, a plain hayburger but with different toppings for each of them. Rarity herself choose a small salad instead. As the girls waited for the waiter to return with their food, Applejack was the first to start conversation. “So, how much free time do ya have before yer off to change things in yer business Twilight?” She asked. “I’m not quite sure, but I’d have to say it isn’t long.” Twilight responded. “Ah, well we all understand darling.” Rarity said, “Business is business unfortunately, and even I will have to let business take control of my schedule.” “What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked timidly. “Well it’s nothing darling, I’ll just be leaving Ponyville for a couple days, but I’ll be back in time for Twilight’s big returning party!” Rarity replied, Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “My returning party?” She asked. “Didn’t you hear?” Rainbow said, “Princess Celestia is throwing you a big party in a week or two. She’s throwing it to welcome you back to Equestria.” “I never heard about that.” Twilight said. “Oh... Well shoot, ah reckon that she meant fer it ta be a surprise party.” Applejack said, brushing the back of her mane with her hoof and looking down. “Ah well, ah guess ya can still act surprised.” Twilight made a soft chuckle before her eyes widened upon hearing a soft ringing coming from her bag, and she struggled to bite onto the bag to flip it to her side. Spike then got up and walked to her, opening her bag and taking out her DragonFireDroid, handing it to her with a soft smile and a ‘thank you’ in return as he sat back down. Twilight swiped the screen and answered the call, seeing Celestia’s face on the screen. “Princess Celestia? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked. “I’m sorry my dear student if this is a bad time, but the Council is at it again. They say that if you’re truly to go through with your plans then they expect you to be at your company right this second to work on creating your machines. They want to see a prototype by the end of the week.” “What???” Twilight said, raising her voice in shock, “By the end of the week??? How am I going to get a prototype done by then???” Celestia sighed deeply, closing her eyes before responding. “I’m sorry my student, but it’s what Flur wishes, and I think we shouldn’t rebel against the Council too much. It might cause some stir amongst foreign nobles that will smear the Council’s reputation with their control.” “It’s okay... I understand Princess. I’ll get to work straight away on a prototype.” Twilight said. “Good, my student. We will speak after you finish?” “Yes Celestia, we will.” Twilight ended the call and put the Droid back into her bag, Spike getting up and zipping it back up with a sad smile. “Hey, it’s okay Twilight. We can all go out to eat after you finish, right guys?” Spike said. “Yeah!” The girls said, smiling. “Alright... I’ll see you girls later next week. Hopefully.” Twilight said, still looking down as she got up from her chair and walked with Spike back to their house. Spike opened the door as Twilight continued, walking through the hall until she reached her room, hearing Spike call down to her from the door. “I’ll see you later today, alright? For dinner?” She turned to him and nodded, smiling softly before turning and closing the door, hiding herself in her room. Her desk was still as neat as she had left it, and the lack of dust proved that Spike had dusted it during her absence. She sat down and bit down on the handle of the top left drawer and opened it, biting down gently on a blank, folded blueprint inside and taking it out, setting it on the desk and opening it. She did the same for the top right drawer, removing a small container of ink and a quill. She bit down onto the quill lightly, thanking the fact that she had learned how to write with her mouth in her younger years. She might be rusty, but it’s better than nothing. She wrote down on the top right corner of the paper ‘Prototype 1: Nonlethal Blast Weapon’ before going to work. Trixie ran her hoof through her mane, sighing. There had to be something they had overlooked. Something, anything. "Are you sure that we don't have the materials to use the suit?" She asked one of her scientists. "Yes Ms. Trixie. I'm sure. Without the power source that goes into the chest, then I'm afraid we can't use it." He replied. Dammit! She thought, This can't be it! There has to be something! Anything! "Ugh!" She kicked the suit, leaving a throbbing pain that she groaned at, "WELL BUILD IT!!!!" "I-I'm sorry Ms. Trixie! B-But we don't know what she used or if we have the materials necessary to create-" "TWILIGHT SPARKLE BUILT THIS THING IN A BUCKING CAVE!!!!" Trixie shouted, "WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES WE COULD WANT!!!!" "Well... We're not Twilight Sparkle. And we don't even know what she had to use like she had back at the cave!" The scientist replied, shaking slightly at Trixie's sudden shouting. "Well then." Trixie said, reaching to the table and getting her DragonFireDroid, calling Biashara. "Biashara! Get your men and meet me at the cave you used to hide Twilight Sparkle in. We're looking for something." She said, walking away and hanging up before Biashara had time to respond to her sudden call.