//------------------------------// // CHAPTER SIX:Roll, Stumble, Lessons // Story: The Bizarre Case Of Minty And Malty // by Speedy //------------------------------// “What do you mean Minty requested the investigation to stop?!” shouted Sparkleworks. She and Whistle were sitting inside Star Catcher’s office. The walls were newly painted purple, the dark red carpet was newly finished and on both sides there were bookshelves that reached the ceiling. On the walls were photos of past guard captains, one of whom had a golden head piece centered to the right of Star Catcher’s desk which was placed in front of a large window that hung slightly open. Star Catcher, whose desk was so neatly set up it would rival that of Twilight Sparkle, calmly replied “She insisted it would be a waste of time and effort”. Outraged Sparkleworks stomped her hoof which had startled Whistle enough to topple over her chair, she quickly apologized and loudly spoke to Star Catcher “She was attacked! How can you simply---” but quickly fell silent as Star Catcher raised a hoof. “Our friend Tropical Dream had told me something important, so believe me in saying this won’t be just shut away” said Star Catcher. Sparkleworks slowly lowered the hoof she had raised for a second stomp and stared at Star Catcher, she was only briefly dumbfounded before her words found their way back. “Well, good! What did Trop---” “I’m not at liberty to say,” Star Catcher interrupted to Sparkleworks’ slight annoyance. “she asked me to keep it between just the two of us---”  Star Catcher had stopped mid sentence. There was a large globe that rested by a statue of Celestia and a bookshelf, any of which could become dominoes at any moment and now Whistle had her eyes on them. “We’re her friends, we have a right to---” “Don’t worry Sparky,” interrupted Star Catcher. “I hadn’t called you here just too---Whistle, please don’t touch that---in fact Sparkleworks, there’s something I’d like to ask you personally.” Sparkleworks had turned her attention to Whistle to see what she was up to but had snapped her head back at her friend’s words, she nodded and asked “What would you like us to do?” while keeping Whistle in the corner of her eye. “I only need a request from you, Thistle Whistle, if you would please leave us?” Star Catcher asked in her sweet and overly motherly voice, which only added to Whistle’s grumpy reply. “Huh? Why!” Whistle asked, the globe spinning as she quickly turned away to face the two mares. “It’ll be OK Whistle,” spoke Sparkleworks who was scratching the back of her head curiously. “if you’d just wait outside?” Whistle turned from one mare to the other and wanted to say something in her defence but she became quite muted, pouting she hovered out of the room. “Why am I’m always the one left out?” she mumbled, slamming the double doors shut. “Oh Whistle..” started Sparkleworks. “Just let her be, no doubt all the snow outside will wash away her anger” Star Catcher replied. Sparkleworks stared at her. “I asked her to wait outside the room though..?” Star Catcher offered a slight giggle as she explained “Do you honestly think Whistle wouldn’t think wait outside as, to quite literally, wait outside?” She was right, Whistle did take Sparkleworks’ words quite literal. After she had fixed her green scarf and boggin she stepped outside where her face was slapped by the breeze which while very cold, felt so refreshing at the same time. Her eyes widened and a big grin grew on her face as she looked upon the wonderland of snow before her, almost everything was covered and ponies were already playing. Looking up Whistle felt the snowflakes melt on her cheeks, licking her lips she outstretched her tongue and immediately withdrew it. “Hm!” she whistled, feeling even more refreshed. Hopping and hovering herself down the stairs she scratched at the ground to see how deep the snow was before diving in head first. Burying her face in the snow she moved her legs back and forth before propelling herself upward, after taking a look at her impression she laughed. “Oh Mr.Snow Impression, your face is silly!” she whistled then immediately became bored. “Brr..” rubbing her hooves together for warmth her ears suddenly perked up at the sound of laughter. Across the street were a group of small foals who were building what Whistle assumed were snow forts, she wasn’t sure why else they would be patting snow into a small wall. One of her wings stretched to her chin and she pondered until her puzzled mind was solved. “Oh! I know what I can do!” she happily whistled and looked around until she spotted a perfect snow pile and her grin grew double in size. “Oh perfect!” she hovered over and started to inspect the snow pile, “This pile is just big enough to build my own fort, hm it’s tasty snow too!” Immediately getting to work she turned on her turbo mode as her friends came to call it, in under a full minute Whistle had taken the lumpy pile of snow and transformed it into a small mound that was just big enough to fit her. It was a mystery to her friends how she works so fast and no doubt it was one of the many reasons Sparkleworks came to theorize Whistle and Pinkie Pie were related. Now comfortable inside her mini fort Whistle was huddled up much like a dog would when taking a nap, she felt very content and even a little sleepy when her ears once again perked up. “Hey miss, you want to help us build?” Curious Whistle stuck her head out of the snow entrance which had made her look like she was half buried, she had thought to see a foal but was surprised to see she was quite alone, then she heard a familiar voice and she rotated over to where she had seen foals playing earlier. They were still building their own forts but had stopped momentarily as a mare trotted past, as she made her way across the street Whistle’s wing fluttered so much her fort had collapsed from within. Whistle’s muffled yelp had drew the mare’s attention, she shook her head at the site of a full grown mare getting collapsed in on snow and paid her no mind whatsoever as she trotted on. “Pitiful, the ponies in this town are just so---” Whistle had raised her head up and outside the snow, the mare came to a screeching halt. The look on her face was utter shock and she rubbed her eyes to be sure what she was seeing was indeed correct, her mouth hung open as if she was disgusted at something. “Malty!” Whistle flapped her wings and managed to hover herself free. “It is you!” she whistled and flew over to Malty who had taken a step or two backwards. “W-Whistle? Why were you buried in snow?” Malty asked, she hoped there was a better explanation than what her mind had assumed. Whistle, wings flapping as she was very happy to see Malty again, tilted her head curiously before answering “You mean my snow fort? Oh, it collapsed in on me”. “You built a snow fort?” Malty asked dumbfounded. “Please do tell me, that thou were merely building it for a child?” Whistle shook her head and Malty facehooved. “What’s wrong with building my own snow for---oh those three are having a snowball fight!” Whistle watched the three foals and wished she was taking part in their fun. “Say, do you wanna---” “No” Interrupted Malty as she pushed Whistle aside with her wooden cane. “You must be busy then, how about later?” Whistle asked as she flew backwards so she could keep watching the snowball fight while facing Malty at the same time. “Afraid I can’t,“ spoke Malty who sounded somewhat in a hurry. “Star Catch requesth a meeting, and I’m already late as it is---” “Oh? Me and Sparkleworks were too!” Whistle flipped midair and landed on her hooves. Stopping for a third time Malty stared at Whistle, “Then do tell, why are thee playing in the snow?” she actually wondered if that was a lie just so they could hang together. At hearing her question Whistle’s wings dropped down along with her head, slightly kicking at the snow she replied “They didn’t want me inside, they asked me to wait outside..” looking quite crestfallen she went on to add “I hate being left out”. “Hm, quite. I assume thou friend is here about Minty? Do tell, how long has she been cooped up in that hospital?” Malty looked around to see if Sparkleworks was hidden in the snow somewhere and was very relieved at seeing no sign of her. “Oh she got out weeks ago” Whistle answered while copying Malty’s head movements, she wondered what she was looking for. “It’s actually been two weeks, no, no I think it was three? Oh, I can’t remember!” “Well then,” Malty started but paused as she caught Whistle copying her, her nostrils flared for only a fraction of an second and Whistle ceased at once. “my meeting is a private matter, I’m afri---” Malty froze as something suddenly struck her head and, quite literally, her neck became cold as ice. “Hehe, rouge snowball” giggled Whistle, she took a piece of the snowball from Malty’s mane and showed that she wasn’t lying. Mumbling a faint curse Malty bent down to pick her hat off the ground, wiping it clean she angrily stared behind her at the foals. “Sorry miss!” one of the foals called out but Malty simply offered an growl and turned away. “Do you want to play?” asked one of the other two who after looking at the filly by her side added “Y-You can have my fort?” Grunting Malty didn’t reply, “If I didn’t answer the last time, then thou should know my answer” she shouted after being asked three times in a roll. “Why not?” asked Whistle, she felt Malty was being just a little bit grumpy. Snorting and then immediately hiding away her blushing Malty answered “Because, I wouldn’t be caught dead playing so---uncouth.” “Aw, you're just being a grumpy sort as you got sneak attacked!” Whistle replied, whistling she said “I’ll play!” and started to make her way over to the foals. As she galloped passed one of the many trees one of her back legs was caught in one of the exposed roots and she went stumbling down. Instincts kicked in and her wings outstretched but during her panic she had rolled mid air and collided with a second tree. “Uh-oh…” she mumbled as snow suddenly fell. Malty, who by this point was atop the stairs, turned back just in time to see Whistle getting completely buried. “That mare...” Shaking her head she turned and gripped the door handle when the sound of laughter caught her attention. Turning back around she saw the foals pointing at Whistle who was trying to crawl herself free, their laughing seemed to had struck a chord within Malty. She stared at the scene which she thought was just pathetic and squinted her eyes at the foals quite angrily. She felt like trotting over and saying something profound and actually took a step down the stairs, but she stopped when she took a second glance at Whistle. She moved her hat down so her face was partly covered, she sighed and wanted to head inside but something deep inside had took control as she trotted over. “You...you are a….ugh, thou art immature” she mumbled as she reached Whistle. As Malty helped dig her out of the giant snow pile Whistle asked “W-Wha..?” and she looked crestfallen again. “You act like a child!” shouted Malty, she raised her cane to Whistle’s chest. “I had noticed at the picnic, I had hoped otherwise but thou haveth confirmed my thoughts just now. Playing around in snow, like a unmannered child. Looking so---pathetic, stumbling around and getting buried. I dare say, thou art the most immature, childish mare, that I had ever seen.” Whistle’s wings touched the ground and tears were visible in her eyes, she felt like going off and cry her eyes out into a pillow that was made from her favorite sundae. She wasn’t sure why but the way Malty was shouting at her, it made her feel as if a long time friend was the one shouting and it was breaking her heart. “Whistle, you need to act your age” Malty turned her attention to the foals who were still playing, she snarled at them. “Those foals laughing just goes to show that thee need help“. Whistle rubbed her nose which had started to run and prepared herself. “Whistle, and it pains me to say this, but I suggest thou allowth---me---to teach you”. Whistle started to burst out crying but froze suddenly as she stared at Malty as if a brick wall had fallen between them. “What..?” she asked wiping her nose and eyes. “To be proper, I mean. If thou would allow, and I honestly hope thee will, meet me later this evening so I can help you to---well, let me put it bluntly, to stop getting laughed at” she turned back to the foals and gave them a crude stare. Whistle had no reaction she could had possibly given so she remained motionless. Wondering if something was wrong with her Malty poked her and she regretted it the very next instant as Whistle exploded. “I never had a friend teach me before!” Whistle unintentionally bursted out in a loud voice. “Well, I would hardly say thou and I are---” suddenly Whistle flew forward and hugged her. “L-Let me go! You---you---” “Aw Malty, and here I thought you wanted to end our friendship!” “Let---me---go---this insta---” Whistle tightened her hug which resulted in Malty being unable to breath. The tight hug was unbearable and it couldn’t had ended fast enough, as she fell onto her knees Malty gasped for air which had burnt her lungs due to the freezing cold. “So, where do we meet at?” Whistle asked, her wings fluttering with glee. “Thou, recovered quite fast from your near breakdown.” Malty spoke in between her painful inhales. “I recover fast.” smiled Whistle, who was thinking of all the possible things she could do with Malty when they meet up later. Using her cane for support Malty stood up straight, holding her chest with one hoof she reached in her coat pocket with the other and took out something that she gulped down in one bite. “Street Golden Acres, yes Whistle, named after the same pony as that library. This evening, at Flourish and Blotts. Thou better maketh it at four o'clock,” Malty pressed her face against Whistle’s as she added “don’t be late”. Loosening the grip on her own chest Malty trotted back to the guard station with Whistle right behind her, coming to the door she reached for the doorknob which started to turn by itself. She stared at it for a moment, watched the door open, and met eye to eye with Sparkleworks. “Sparkle” Malty spoke, keeping her face as straight as possible. Sparkleworks stared back, saw Whistle waving from behind her, and spoke “Malty, why are you her---hey!” Malty had pushed her aside and trotted inside, she shut the door with a little bit of a slam. “That mare...!” Giggling Whistle shrugged, “How did the private meeting go?” she asked giggling some more. “As well as you’d expect, she wants us to keep an eye on Minty for a while” Sparkleworks answered as she trotted down the stairs, passed Whistle, and onto the sidewalk. “So why did I have to leave?” Whistle asked flying after her. “Because I wasn’t suppose to tell you” replied Sparkleworks, she stopped in her tracks for for only a fraction of a second before suddenly rolling out of the way of an snowball. “Aw I always mis---wait, if that’s true then why did you just tell me what you weren’t suppose to tell me?” “Because unlike most, I trust you not to go blabbing it out in front of her” Sparkleworks answered as she hopped over an exposed tree root and wasn’t at all surprised that Whistle had failed to see it. “Oh” she uttered in a somewhat painful whistle before hovering herself back up. “Well Malty trusts me too, why else would she offer to be a teacher?” “Well I imagined she---wait, what!?” Sparkleworks came to a halt which had resulted in Whistle bumping into her, as she hovered a few inches backwards Sparkleworks turned around suddenly. “What do you mean, teacher?”