> City in the Earth
>  by MindEdge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Welcome to Manasazi
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Welcome to the Chasm

By MindEdge


“All right, I’ve got your passport, your transfer documents, and your parents permission slip. I don’t think you need that one. And it looks like it all checks out. Welcome to Manasazi Ms. Bluebell. Just have a seat right over there and I’m sure a member of the city guard will be with you shortly.”
The sandy colored mare at the desk handed Bluebell her papers back.
“Thank you miss…?”
“Hepualaha'ole.” Answered the secretary.
Bluebell gave a momentary blank stare.
“Ok, thanks. I’ll just… sit over there and wait.”
Bluebell levitated her documents into her saddlebag, and then walked over to the far side of the lobby to have a seat on one of the many cushions lining the floor. To her righ was a small table stacked with magazines, but after picking one up she realized that they were Manasazi magazines, and she had no hope in being able to read them. She then looked up towards a ticking clock. It said 6:30, good to know they still used the same numbers here. Besides a few potted plants and the earthen paint on the building walls, there was nothing to look at or do, so Bluebell decided to jest zone out for a bit.

The last few days had been tough on the small blue unicorn. Manasazi was a very long way from Canterlot, and there wasn’t a direct railroad between the two. Bluebell had to endure the Canterlot express, then a carriage trek though ferries forest, another train ride through about a million miles of bison territory, then multiple ferry rides through multiple oxbow lakes, then another train ride, which landed her in the town of New Cloppamore.
When she had arrived at New Cloppamore she could already tell she was in a new land, as the town was filled with bat ponies. She wasn’t sure exactly where to go for her ride to the capitol, so she approached the nearest train official and asked him where (and she had to re read the directions she was mailed to register what she was reading) the “Millipede Station” was. The stallion spoke in an almost indecipherable neighlic accent, and another pony was needed to translate his directions. She was told not to go to the millipede station, and instead take one of the many airlifts over to the Manasazi city outskirts. According to the translating mare, “Some of the millipedes have caught a cold, and won’t be back on their feet until next week”. Bluebell was starting to think ‘millipede station’ was not just a mistranslation.
The air balloon was the nicest mode of travel yet. That being said, she was far too afraid of heights to actually look out to the city as they approached it. Instead she took her time reflect on her many choices she had made that week. Choices like “why did I sign up for this?” or “I probably should have finished reading that transfer document before signing my name on it” and “I knew I should have double checked to make sure I brought my toothbrush”. 

“Is there a Bluebell of Canterlot here?”
Bluebell was instantly brought back to earth and shot her head to the left to see who had called for her. It was a bat pony, broadly built with wide shoulders and large hooves, and was garbed in a suit of purple armor. Bluebell was almost too scared to speak up to the pony guard. With his large frame and dark uniform, she found him to be too imposing to talk to. She didn’t have to worry about speaking up though, as the secretary did it for her.
“Ms. Bluebell is sitting right over there. All of her paperwork checks out so you’re free to take her away.”
Bluebell flinched when the guard turned to face her, but instantly calmed as he lifted a large, metal shod hoof and removed his helm. He had a pleasant smile and kind purple colored eyes. His coat was a dark blue and his mane was a dark, dusky gray with a few stripes of purple running through it. 
“Hey Bluebell, I’m Skytop. I’m here to take you back to the barracks.”
Bluebell found the stallion quite charming and handsome, and gladly shook his hoof when he offered it.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you officer Skytop, my name is Blue… well I guess you already know my name. Sorry.”
Bluebell blushed. She was always awkward when it came to introductions. But Skytop gave no mind to her blunder.
“There’s no need to be sorry. But if you’re ready to go I need you to hold on for a second, I need to uh, speak with the secretary.”
Bluebell stood and fastened her saddlebag as Skytop turned to walk to the mare at the desk. Bluebell heard them having a conversation, but they were speaking in a language bluebell wasn’t familiar with. Eventually Skytop came back to Bluebell, but now wearing a somewhat dejected looking expression on his face.
“Was everything all right? Is there something wrong with my paperwork?” Asked Bluebell. The last thing she wanted right now was to be deported over a misplaced check mark on her transfer papers.
Skytop looked to Bluebell, and immediately straightened his face out.
“Oh, that? Don’t worry that wasn’t about you, you’re paper work was fine. That back there was just me striking out. Anyway, ready to go?”
Bluebell nodded, as the stallion placed his helm back on his head.
“Then let’s go. Just stick close to me, it can be easy for a newcomer to get lost in this city.”
Bluebell took Skytop’s advice to heart as they exited the hall of immigration and entered the city outside.

The city of Manasazi was unlike any place she had ever seen. It was vast, easily rivaling the likes of Canterlot or Manehatten. It was built into a large canyon, a fissure in the earth that split the surrounding landscape. The opening alone looked at least a mile wide, and the way the jagged rock of the flanking cliffs closed in overhead gave the illusion of a great set of black teeth closing in on the city.
Having been born in Canterlot, Bluebell was used to its high marble towers and brightly painted roofs. Her home city as wide open and bright, as its location on the side of a high mountain insured there was little obscuring Celestia’s sunlight.
Manasazi felt like Canterlot’s antithesis. Manasazi was deep in the shell of the earth, and the surrounding stone gave a sense of claustrophobia. As one traveled down the cities mane roadway, the chasm became narrower, the cliffs blocking out more and more sunlight. The buildings here were made from black stone and dark terracotta bricks, and few reached higher than 3 stories. Many of the buildings were even built into the rock walls, somehow suspended by the stone of the sheer cliffs.
Skytop guided the little unicorn through the crowded city streets, and made frequent glances behind him to make sure he hadn’t lost her. Every time he looked back he saw her looking up at the surrounding cityscape, causing her to sometimes veer off course. Even though Bluebells constant sky gazing was slowing them down, he found it rather cute. 
“You all right back they’re Bluebell? If you want me to slow down just let me know.”
Bluebell was broken from her tourist driven trance.
“Sorry Mr. Skytop, its just that I’ve never been to a city with this kind of architecture before, or this kind of geology. This city is nothing like Canterlot.”
Skytop understood the little mares distraction. Almost everyone who visits Manasazi for the first time is enthralled by its strange scenery and buildings. Most ponies would never even think to build their town inside what was essentially a giant cave.
“Well don’t spend all your time looking at the buildings, you might miss some other things that are different from Canterlot too, like the citizens.
Bluebell didn’t quite understand at first what Skytop was talking about. She had already figured she would see a city full of bat ponies, she had read that much about Manasazi. It wasn’t until she gave the surrounding pedestrians a good look that she fully understood what Skytop was talking about. 
There were lots of bat ponies, but they weren’t the only ones walking the streets. There were also plenty of earth ponies, most of them having unusual splotching colorations on their coats, but bluebell didn’t think that was too unusual, Canterlot had a healthy dose of earth ponies as well. 
Then bluebell spotted something flying overhead, a griffon. Griffons were a rare sight in Canterlot as they usually visited Cloudsdale when they interacted with ponies at all. Were griffons more common here? Bluebell walked by a large woolen body hauling a heavy cart.
“Skytop”, Bluebell asked, “was that a buffalo?”
“Technically that was a bison, we get a few of them from out east. But look over there by the fruit stand.”
Bluebell looked to where Skytop was pointing, and saw a peculiar sight. Two stripped equines were talking to a wooly looking figure behind the stall. Bluebell had never seen a zebra in person before, nor had she seen a llama. Bluebell started looking around more.
Walking in a line at the other side of the street was a group of caribou being led by a pegasus. Standing high above the crowd was a tall giraffe wearing hundreds of red beads all down her neck. And under a tent, in front of what looked like a bank, was a short adolescent dragon talking to what Bluebell swore was a sea-pony half submerged in a large vase full of water.
But then Bluebell noticed something missing, something she didn’t quite catch at first.
“Where are all of the unicorns?” She asked. Canterlot had a population of at least 90% unicorns, and the fact that Bluebell couldn’t find one was very disturbing.
Skytop laughed, he was wondering when Bluebell would notice the lack of unicorns.
“It must be odd, huh? We actually have very few unicorns living in this city.”
“How few?” Bluebell asked.
“Less than ten.”
“Percent?”
“No, less then ten total.”
Bluebell was starting to feel very lonely all of the sudden, something Skytop picked up on.
“Don’t worry Bluebell, we get a few unicorn merchants that pass through the city every now and then.”
His words weren’t helping.

Skytop lead Bluebell down a path branching from the main road. It led to a block of very large, very thick, stone built structures. Skytop brought Bluebell to the largest of them, and pointed to it.
“Well, here we are, the grand hall of the Manasazi city guard.”
Bluebell looked up at the building Skytop was pointing to. It was a rather bare building, with no statues, pillars, or decorative flair to speak of. It was just a thick, blocky building, made of solid granite, and if Skytop hadn’t said what it was, bluebell would never have guessed it was a government building.
“Its… nice.” Said the little blue mare. 
Back at home the royal guard lived in one of the shiniest buildings in the city, with a lavish roof and marble stairs leading 50 feet up to the entrance. This building looked like the most unimpressive structure in town. Skytop was quite aware of this.
“Don’t worry, its not supposed to be nice looking. Here in Manasazi we like our government buildings like we like our coffee; strong, dark, and bitter to drink.”
Bluebell gave him a confused look.
“Yea, that simile sounded better in my head.”
As the duo entered the barracks, it was apparent that the inside was just as plain as the outside. The walls were unpainted, showing bare, smoothly carved stone. Bluebell could also see more guards walking about the place; most of who were wearing the same purple armor Skytop wore.
Eventually, Skytop found the door of their destination, and led Bluebell through it. The door opened into a lounge like area, in which stood three other bat ponies.
“Everyone, this is Bluebell, Bluebell, this is everyone.” Declared Skytop most unceremoniously.
One of the guards stepped forward to greet bluebell.
“Nice introduction Skytop, you could open an opera with that. My names Flintfeather, I’m the sachem of our group, welcome aboard.”
She was a yellow-coated mare, with long orange hair and sky blue eyes. She offered a hoof to Bluebell, who gladly took it in turn.
“I guess its my job to do the introductions then. This is Pathfinder.”
Flintfeather gestured to the pony to her left, who offered his hoof as well. He was coated dark green with a few splotched of a lighter green decorating it. He also had a ruddy shaded mane, as well as deep violet eyes. He didn’t speak, he just gave a small smile and shook Bluebells hoof. But there was something, off, about the hoof shake. It felt mechanical, like Bluebell was shaking hooves with a robot.
“And this is-” Flintfeather was cut off by a rather intense bat pony.
“Hey there lass, I’m Windcaller, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Rather than waiting for Bluebell to take her hoof, the pale purple mare grabbed the unicorn’s hoof and shook it. She greeted Bluebell with the same neighlic accent she had heard in New Cloppamore, but only slightly more comprehensible.
“It’s nice to finally get a new member of our gang, even one as wee as yourself!”
Bluebell braced herself as she was assaulted by the energetic ponies enthusiasm. Luckily for her, Flintfeather’s yellow hoof pushed Bluebells “attacker” away before any damage could be done.
“You’ll have to excuse Windcaller’s behavior, she can be a bit of a ram sometimes.”
Windcaller gave a face that clearly conveyed her disdain for her sachems words.
“That only leaves Sequoia.” Flintfeather looked around the room for the other mare. “Where Is Sequoia anyway? She should have been back by now.”
“She’s right here.”
Bluebell turned around to greet the pony that had just entered the room.
“Sorry, after I turned in our reports Long-Count intercepted me to ask about the specifics of a railway trading contract that I had overseen. So I had to read the darn thing aloud to him and then try to expla- you know what it’s not important. Hey I’m Sequoia, it’s a pleasure to meet you Bluebell.”
The figure that stood before Bluebell sent a chill down her spine. The mare was tall, very tall, her long slender legs and long neck bringing her head quite comfortably above the others. She was Pitch black in coat, had a straw textured mane of lime green hair and blond highlights. At first Bluebell thought Sequoia was a unicorn as she could see a black horn protruding through her mane. But it was not the even spiral that Bluebell had, but a bladelike extension that resembled a shark fin more than it did a horn. Bluebell noticed that the scary looking mare was extending a hoof. She looked down at Sequoia’s arm and cringed when she saw it was riddled with large holes and cavities.
Bluebell just stared at the hoof in front of her. She couldn’t bring herself to take it, it was just too weird and too frightening to touch. Sequoia saw her hesitation, and withdrew the appendage.
“Its all right, I get it.” Sequoia said this with a smile on her face, but as Bluebell looked her in her large jade eyes, she knew she had offended her.
Flintfeather had seen this situation before, she had even been in Bluebells place years ago. Anyone who hadn’t met Sequoia when they were a child instinctively withdrew out of fear. She tried her best to salvage the situation.
“Well, now that were all introduced, why don’t we celebrate our new member with a trip to the Red Corn Diner, my treat.”
Bluebell heard a round of agreement from around the room. After all of the guards had disrobed, they made their way to the restaurant. 
As the group traveled down the city streets, Bluebell was made painfully aware of her short stature and poor build while walking next to her tall, athletic co-workers. Each one of them stood high over the diminutive unicorn, making her feel very vulnerable.  Bluebell looked up towards the sky, and noticed that they were going deeper into the chasm. The “teeth” of the cliffs flanking the city were beginning to close in, slowly blocking the sinking sun more and more as they traveled down the length of the road.

The Red Corn Diner had an interesting layout. Instead of being a large enclosed building like most restaurants, it was instead a small adobe structure that contained only a kitchen. This small building was then surrounded by rows of round wrought iron tables. In an enclosed city where space was at such a premium, it made sense to bluebell for a permanent structure to take up as little room as possible.
The group was greeted by an orange painted mare, who seated them at a table large enough for six and gave each of them a menu to look over. One look at her menu was all bluebell needed to give up on trying to decipher anything. like the magazines back in the hall of immigration, it was written in a language she had no means of reading.
“Do you need one of us to translate for you Bluebell?”
Bluebell looked to her right at Skytop.
“I think so, yes. I’m at a bit of a disadvantage here.” Bluebell was very glad that her new team was so compensating for her.
“Are ye’ sure it was wise to bring a unicorn from Cantrlot to Red Corn?” Windcaller asked Flintfeather. “The food here is a bit, ‘authentic’. Her foreign stomach might not be able to take the food.”
The yellow mare knew what her friend was talking about. The Red Corn Diner served real Ponondagan food, something the little unicorn might not take well too.
“Don’t worry Windcaller, well make sure Bluebell doesn’t order anything too ‘exotic’. Bluebell, why don’t we order you a nice loaf of cornbread?”
Bluebell gave her new boss a perplexed look.
“What’s cornbread?”
It took four full seconds for the rest of the table to realize that Bluebell was not, in fact, joking, which to them made the statement all the funnier. A wave of laughter erupted from the amused guards. Bluebell didn’t see what was so funny.
“We’re sorry bluebell”, said Flintfeather, “we didn’t know that they don’t have cornbread in Canterlot.”
“We have corn, we have bread, but I’ve never heard of cornbread.” Bluebell said in her defense.
When the Waitress returned, Sequoia gave her their orders. Or at least bluebell assumed she did. Sequoia and the waitress were conversing in yet another conversation in a language she didn’t understand. When the waitress left, Bluebell decided to address the situation.
“So how bad is it that I don’t know the cities language? Do I need to take a class or something? I don’t want you guys to constantly have to translate for me.”
Flintfeather had already planned for this eventuality when she was first told by the High Sachem that they would be given an “exchange student” from Canterlot. While many Manasazi citizens spoke Bluebells language, it would be beneficial for her to pick up one here as well.
“You’ll be happy to know that you don’t need to take any special classes. Skytop here is fluent in all of Manasazi’s main languages and has already agreed to tutor you in any of them you feel you need.”
“What do you mean by Manasazi’s ‘main languages’, are there more than one?” Bluebell was unaware that the city had more than one language, and the idea terrified her.
“Well of course”, said Skytop, “when you have a port city as large and diverse as this, your bound to have more than a few tongues flying around. Manasazi isn’t even the first language some of us learn, like Windcaller here. She didn’t know Manasazi until she was 12.”
“That’s right, I was born in Cloppamore, so I grew up speakin’ neighlic.”
Bluebell didn’t quite understand.
“Wait a minute, you’re not all Manasazi?”
“Well no”, said Sequoia, “not all ponies in Manasazi are ethnically Manasazi. Our ancestors come from all over the place.”
“But you all… Most of you have bat wings, where are you from if not from around here?”
“Skytop”, said Flintfeather, “you better field this one.”
Skytop sat up strait and cleared his throat so speak. He looked all too happy to be the one to explain things to Bluebell.
“A long time ago, this city was founded by the original Manasazi bat ponies. They found refuge within the Canyons high walls and deep crevices. Here they lived in relative isolation for thousands of years, but they eventually made contact with other civilizations from across the sea. The three major groups that immigrated to our grand city were the bat ponies from the islands of Mauna Haya, the earth ponies from Ponondaga, and more bat ponies from Neighrin. Flintfeather is Mauna Hayan, my dad is Manasazi, Pathfinder is half Manasazi and half Ponondagan, Windcaller is painfully Neighlic, and Sequoia is… complicated.”
Bluebell looked at the obsidian-coated pony, and wondered. What was she exactly? Sequoia saw the unicorn’s eyes, and decided to end her speculation.
“I think were forgetting just how far away bluebell lives from us. You’ve never seen a changeling, have you Bluebell?”
Bluebell shook her head meekly.

Their food came in good time, and bluebell wasn’t disappointed by what she got. In her mind, Bluebell pictured regular bread with corn in it, not the fluffy, golden colored loaf that was put before her. She looked for a knife to cut the bread with and spotted a large iron chopper sitting in the middle of the table. Not wanting to look out of place by using magic, she took the blade by its wooden handle and began to carve up her bread. Once she had finished segmenting her meal, she looked at what the others had ordered. Pathfinder had a bowl of a soupy mixture of corn, beans, and squash, Windcaller had ordered a plate of grilled tomatoes stuffed who-knows-what, and Flintfeather had a fruit salad.
Skytop and Sequoia had decided to split an order. Between them was essentially a pizza, except it didn’t have any cheese on it and the dough was made from cornbread. But the pizzas lack of chees wasn’t the weird thing, the weird thing was how the pizza was being split. Sequoia was cutting the pizza, but she wasn’t using a pizza-cutter or a chopper, she was using her hoof. Sequoia had flattened her left hoof into a cleaver like appendage, and was using it to separate the pizza into slices. This seriously freaked Bluebell out.
“So tell us about yourself Bluebell.”
Bluebell tore herself away from Sequoia’s hoof chopping to see that Flintfeather was asking her a question.
“Uhhh… what do you want to know?”
“Anything, what you do, what you like, your dreams are. Absolutely anything.”
“Well.” Bluebell thought for a while. “I just graduated from college, my favorite color is orange, I like to read, and I like to see plays. I’ve always dreamed of one day dying my mane, but my parents would never let me do it.”
“Why would you want to change your mane color?” Asked Windcaller through a maw full of food. Bluebell thought the answer was obvious.
“Because my naturally gray mane makes me look old.”
“Your mane doesn’t make you look old.” Assured Windcaller. “Its your glasses that make you look old.”
Buebell heard a not-so-quiet thump coming from under the table, followed by Windcaller wincing in pain.
“Your glasses look fine Bluebell.” Said Sequoia. “Windcaller here is just being a jerk.”
By the time they had all finished their food and Flintfeather had paid their bill (using paper money, Bluebell noticed) the sun had receded over the horizon. As the natural light diminished, rows of orange streetlights fired up to illuminate the dark city.
“Looks like its time for us to start heading home, Bluebell here looks about ready to nod off.” Said Flintfeather as she looked at the blue unicorns half closed eyes and slumped over stance. She had a pretty big day, and Flintfeather didn’t want her to start her first day in the city guard only half awake. “Skytop, you better take her to her hotel room.”
“On it Flintfeather. Come on Bluebell, I’m sure your ready to hit the straw after the day you just had.”
He was right. After all of the excitement from the trip, she was starting to crash. Skytop helped the little unicorn to her feet, and made sure she didn’t tip over as he began to slowly walk her home.
“Make sure to set her clock for her”, Flintfeather called out to him, “we don’t want her late for her first day.”
Skytop lead the drowsy unicorn through the still busy city streets, making sure she didn’t crash into anything from her constant listing. As she was part of a state sponsored foreign exchange program, the government was paying for Bluebell to stay at the High Hills Hotel. He checked her into the hotel, brought her into her room, and led her to the bed, as he was afraid she might just sleep where she fell. He set the clock on the nightstand for 4:30 in the morning, just like Flintfeather said, then exited the room.
Tomorrow was Bluebell’s first official day as a counter for the Manasazi city guard, and he was willing to make sure everything went well.

> First Day of Duty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Day of Duty

Dear Bluebell of Canterlot,
We are happy to inform you that your application for the foreign workers exchange program has been approved. You are scheduled to appear at the hall of immigration by 6 pm on the 3rd day of the 14th month. Enclosed are the appropriate tickets and directions for your journey.
Congratulations, and we look forward to having you in our city!

Signed, The Grand Master of the Universe.

“Oh Bluebell honey, this is wonderful! I’m so proud of you.”
Bluebells mother, Bluebonnet, hugged her daughter after reading her acceptance letter aloud to the family. Bluebell had signed up for a special exchange program a week ago on a whim, not really expecting to be accepted. Her “friends” had goaded her into it, claiming that she wasn’t brave enough to leave her home and security blanket. But she showed them. She showed them good by writing her name on the application without even reading it.
“Bluebell, I’m happy that you’re finally going out into the world. I’m sure this will be a great experience for you.” Said Bluebells father. 
“Thanks dad, I wont let you down.” Bluebell said to her father. He  had always been encouraging her to go out and try new things, and she was happy to see him approve of her upcoming trip. But why was he wearing a sailor’s outfit?
Bluebell looked over to her brother, who was still sitting at the kitchen table eating a washcloth.
“I hope you know what you’re getting into”. Donner said. “Its dangerous out there, what with all of the clawed butterflies roaming about. They’re likely to take your head off!”
Bluebell had no idea what her brother was raving about. She figured he was just jealous that she got to go to the other side of the continent and he was stuck at home.
“There’s only one more thing to do darling”. Bluebonnet said to her daughter. “Stay put here and well be right back with a surprise.”
Before Bluebell could utter a word to question what they were doing, her family had run out of the room and lock her inside. She just stood still for a while, in the middle of her kitchen. She had no idea what was going on, her family were acting very weird all of the sudden. Not only that, but her mother had left the popsicles she was baking in the oven, they were likely to burn now!
Suddenly, Bluebell heard a noise. It was a creeping sound, like hoofs walking carefully across a tile floor. But there was no one else in the kitchen, it was just her, the oven, and the giant balloon man in the corner. Then Bluebell felt it, the prickling of needled along her back. Bluebell couldn’t move to look what was behind her, she was frozen in place by fear.
“Who’s there?” The little unicorn asked. Though she already knew the answer.
“It’s Sequoia”. A voice called out from behind. “Who else would it be?”
Bluebell felt cold tendrils start to wrap around her body, binding her in place. She tried to scream for help but a large black claw clamped over her mouth.
“Its alright”. Sequoia whispered into her ear. “Once I take your brain out, you wont be afraid of anything ever again. Won’t that be great?”
Bluebell screamed into the suffocating claw as a piercing shriek of agony filled her ear.

Beeeeeeeep!

Bluebell was ripped out of her dream by the high-pitched beeping of the alarm clock next to her bed. Realizing the previous threat of cranial intrusion was just a dream, she attempted to get up and shut off the alarm. She found getting out of bed difficult, as she had somehow entangled herself in her bed sheets to where it was starting to constrict her breathing. After escaping from her cotton menace, she put on her glasses and looked at the clock.

4:30 am.

That couldn’t be right, thought Bluebell, there was no way Skytop set her clock to 4:30 in the morning, not unless he was pulling a cruel prank. She was just about to let her head hit the pillow again, when 3 steady nocks came from the door.
“Hold on, I’ll be right there.”
Bluebell rolled out of bed like a sack of potatoes, and slowly crawled her way to the front door. She opened the wooden door and looked to see a green bat pony looking down at her.
“Hey Pathfinder, good morning. What time is it, my clock says 4:30 but that cant be correct if you are up.”
“Your clock is not wrong”. Said pathfinder in an even monotone. “Our team is scheduled to be active from 5 am to 4 pm for this week. I’m here to bring you to the barracks. Are you ready to go?”
Bluebell gave a dull groan in disappointment. Getting up at 4:30 every morning did not sit well with her, she did not sign up for this. Though to be fair she didn’t quite know what she signed up for. Well, there was nothing she could do about it now.
“Let me just brush my hair first, then we can go.”
After realizing she had forgot to bring a hair brush as well as a toothbrush, they made their way to work.

The trip to the barracks with Pathfinder was far less engaging than when Bluebell had walked with Skytop. Pathfinder never tried to engage in conversation or even look at Bluebell. Sequoia may have been scary, but Bluebell felt weary around Pathfinder for a totally different reason.
The streets were not nearly as crowded as they had been the previous day. There were still a healthy number of folks milling about and conducting business, but they were all bat ponies, and not the diverse quagmire of creatures she had seen previously. Although this did give her an opportunity to more easily study their physical features. She had been told that bat ponies were basically Pegasus’ with bat wings instead of bird wings, but this was clearly not the case.
From what Bluebell had seen, Bad ponies stood rather tall compared to other ponies, (especially compared to Bluebell), and had slimmer builds as well. They also had relatively large, pointed ears, which had fur that flared out on their edges and points. But the most noticeable difference between bat ponies and other kinds, was their eyes. Bat ponies had slit shaped pupils, much like a cat. Their eye shape was still a little freaky to bluebell, but she was quickly getting used to it.
They arrived at the barracks in short order. Rather than going to the lounge like yesterday, Pathfinder instead lead Bluebell to the barracks dressing room. The whole team was already there and in the process of rigging themselves with their armor. Which is when Bluebell noticed something, mares and stallions shared the same locker room! Bluebell didn’t know why this bothered her, but it just didn’t sit well.
“Hey there Bluebell, how is your morning so far?”
Bluebell winced at Windcaller’s loud greeting voice and she was starting to miss Pathfinders dull yet quiet wake up call. She hoped the rest of them weren’t so energetic.
“I’m fine, thanks. Does anyone here have a brush I can borrow?”
Bluebell heard chuckles from around the room. She hadn’t looked in the mirror, but she could guess at the state of her mane.
“Sorry for laughing Bluebell”. Said Flintfeather. “I’m sure Sequoia has you covered, right Meadow?” Flintfeather nodded at the tall changeling.
Sequoia looked at Bluebell, then back at Flintfeather.
“Ok”. She said apprehensively.
Bluebell tensed as Sequoia walked towards her. She couldn’t help it, really, as while Sequoia stood a bit taller than her peers, compared to Bluebell she was a towering obsidian monolith of a creature. Last nights dream hadn’t helped either.
“Just keep your head strait and look forward, I promise I’ll be careful”. Sequoia stepped behind the blue unicorn and began to work on her messy mane. 
“Flintfeather, I think everyone is just about ready, should I get the stuff for the thing?” Skytop asked Flintfeather.
The sachem looked around the room. Everyone had donned their armor, and Sequoia was just about done with Bluebells mane. She nodded to Skytop, who nodded back and quickly trotted out of the room.
“I think that looks good enough, sorry I don’t have a mirror.”
Bluebell looked up to see Sequoia smiling down on her holding a comb in he left hoof. Only, her hoof wasn’t holding a comb, it was the comb. Sequoia’s hoof had formed a comb like protrusion, with a multitude of even spines fanning out in a row from it. Sequoia noticed Bluebells fixation on her morphology, and with a look of embarrassment, quickly reshaped her hoof and brought it back to the ground. Bluebell looked away and shivered at the thought of feeling Sequoia’s claws running through her hair.
Bluebell”, called Flintfeather from the middle of the room, “Stand up before me, we need to talk.”
Bluebell thought she had done something wring. But as she walked up to the yellow mare, her smile eased Bluebells fears.
“Bluebell, daughter of Canterlot, are you ready to become one of us?”
Bluebell looked around the room. All of the guards had formed a circle around the blue unicorn, all fully fitted with armor, and holding their helmets down on the floor with their left hoof. They all looked at her, waiting. At this point, there was really only one answer to give.
“Yes.”
“Do you swear to uphold the law, and to protect the great city of Manasazi and all of her children?”
Again, only one answer.
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you swear to that you will support this team and its members, just as they swear to support you?”
“Yes.”
“And do you swear, Bluebell of Canterlot.” Flintfeather’s voice suddenly became low and serious. “That you will never abuse your power in any way, and that you would sooner throw yourself into the maw of a volcano, then submit to the corruption of anger, fear, and evil?”
Bluebell was starting to get freaked out by Flintfeather’s sudden shift in tone. But she was still determined to face this challenge.
“I swear.”
Flintfeather smiled, then turned and nodded to Skytop.
“Then as a sachem of Manasazi,  I hereby bestow upon you, Bluebell daughter of Canterlot, the title of Koa.”
Bluebell started to tear up as Skytop fastened a red sash around her body.
“This is your uniform, a symbol of your status as a counter of Manasazi. It is to be worn when, and only when, you are active in your duties.”
Bluebell was clearly crying as she stood before her new friends. She had never felt so much pride or accomplishment than she did right at that moment. She saw Skytop was offering her a large, thickly bound book.
“This is an official ledger of the Manasazi city guard. With this, you will ink, etch, stab, and carve the accounts of our deeds, whatever they might be.”
Bluebell took the ledger, and placed it within a pouch woven within her new sash. She then looked back up at her sachem.
“Is there anything you wish to say, Bluebell?” Asked Flintfeather.
“Thank you, thank you all. I promise that I wont let you down!”
Flintfeather smiled at the new recruit. They were all smiling, even Pathfinder.
“Then let us go forth, together, and serve our mother.”

Bluebell was practically hopping as she walked with her new team. She felt light and giddy, and had never been happier to be accepted by a group of ponies, even if she had only known them for less than 24 hours. Her euphoria was not lost on the others.
“Someone sure looks happy this morning”. Said Windcaller as she watched the prancing unicorn. “What’s got you smiling so much Bluebell? You didn’t get into the vault of confiscated substances did you?”
“I’m just so happy to finally be able to do something with my life.” Cheered Bluebell. “I’ve never been apart of anything before, let alone a member of a royal guard!”
“Were not royal guard Bluebell, were city guard.” Corrected Flintfeather.
Bluebell stopped her hopping and resumed a normal walk.
“Is there a difference? In Canterlot we just have a royal guard.”
“There’s quite a big difference”. Started Sequoia. “In the Manasazi kingdom, each town has its own force of city guards, or koa’s as they are formally called. Each city divides its koas into separate teams, each led by a sachem. Flintfeather here is our sachem. It’s the job of the koa to protect their city and its citizens.”
“I don’t quite understand”. Said Bluebell. “Do you not have a royal guard?”
“We do”. Said the sachem. “But they are different, their job is to protect the princess, as well as some more… unsavory duties.”
Bluebell had no idea that there were two branches of military in Manasazi. She assumed that it was like Canterlot, where the royal guard acted as the protector of the city and the princess.
“Well I’m still happy to be a city guard.”
They followed the main road out of the city. They were scheduled for something called “cargo inspection” down at the city docks. Bluebell was still left in the dark on most of the city guards duties, but she was willing to help in any way she could. 
The docks were located a few miles away from the city, connected by a long, asphalt road. While not a strenuous trek by any means, the trip was not easy on Bluebells short legs.
“I assume you guys normally fly there?” Asked the tiring unicorn. Flintfeather looked back.
“Yes, but its alright, the boats wont come in till 6 O’clock so we have plenty of time.
“Well that’s good I guess.”
Sequoia watched the poor blue pony’s lagging gait and started to feel sorry for the little counter. She sidled up to her sachem and spoke to her in a low voice.
“Maybe we should have brought a cart, I don’t think the new girl is in the best of shape.”
Flintfeather knew what Meadwspring was talking about and was quite aware of Bluebells predicament.
“I Know what you mean, but I doubt it would look good on our record if we used government property for just one pony.”
“I think it will look just as bad if her little legs give out in the middle of a busy street.”
Flintfeather looked behind her to see the gap between the main group and bluebell had widened considerably since she last looked. At this rate they were likely to be late to their post. But she would deal with that problem when it arose. She looked back at Sequoia.
“Your welcome to carry her.”
Sequoia gave her sachem an annoyed look. She wasn’t sure if Flintfeather was being serious, or if she was just messing with her. If so, she decided to call her bluff.
“All right, I’ll see what I can do.”
Sequoia slowed down until she was parallel to Bluebell. She looked so pitiful and weak, her heavy breathing, and labored pace. The Canterlot raised unicorn was clearly not used to prolonged physical activity.
“Hey there Bluebell, how are you doing?”
Bluebell looked up with a start. She hadn’t seen Sequoia walk up to her, she was too distracted by her burning muscles complaining to her to stop punishing them. Bluebell looked forward to see the rest of the team were almost 50 feet ahead of them, leaving her and the changeling alone together. She did not like the situation she was in.
“I’m d-doing alright Sequoia, I’m doing alright.” Bluebell said nervously. There were other creatures on the road, but she still felt endangered without Flintfeather or Skytop there to protect her from the changeling.
“Are you sure your alright, you look kind of tired there.” Said Sequoia. “You know we can stop and let the others go ahead until your ready to continue.”
Bluebell did not like the sound of that.
“I’m not tired, really! I feel energetic and rested. You don’t need to fret over me, honest!”
Sequoia wasn’t buying the unicorns claims one bit.
“Are you sure? Because I can- “
“No I’m quire alright, thank you!” Exclaimed Bluebell as she quickly trotted ahead tot the rest of the party. Her legs screamed at her to slow down, but Bluebell was far to worried about the potentially brain-eating Sequoia to listen to her aching muscles.
When the finally reached the Manasazi city docks, Bluebell felt ready to feint. Every fiber and thread in her body was begging her to just drop where she stood and lay motionless for the rest of the day, but Bluebell was too honor bound to her new team to listen, at least not today. She lurched over to the nearest crate, and leaned on it for support. 
As Bluebell stood there, pretending to not be winded, she looked around at the surrounding docks. Compared to the city, the docks looked relatively normal. Besides the few shops and warehouses, the docks were just a collection of piers and boasts, with numerous merchants and sailors going about their business. The boats were interesting, as no two looked quite the same. They all looked like they were from different parts of the world, with wildly different hull and sail shapes among them.
“Well someone is late. What happened, did one of you not wake up on time?”
Bluebell looked up to see a rather official looking earth pony approach them. He was wearing a red colored sash much like the one Bluebell was issued, though his was far more ornate. Immediately her heart sank. She knew it was her lack of physical prowess that slowed down the group. She braced herself for the inevitable scolding.
“I apologize high counter Tall Oak”. Said Flintfeather to the earth pony.
Here it comes.
“I had misplaced my helmet and it took time for me to find it. It wont happen again.”
Bluebell was taken by surprise. She didn’t expect a military officer to lie on her behalf. She would make sure not to let Flintfeather down again.
“All right then. You are to go to dock eight. There’s a vessel from Zebrawanda waiting there ready to unload a shipment of tea leves.  Just be on your guard, they seem a bit… sketchy”.
Flintfeather nodded to the high counter, then turned to her team.
“Well you heard him, off to dock eight. Skytop, your on speaking duty, Windcaller, healp Bluebell with learn the book. Sequoia and Pathfinder, get going on cargo”.

The boat at dock eight was an unimpressive specimen compared to the other vessels docked around it. It was a crooked thing, full of boarded breaches and patched sails. Waiting by the gangplank was a group of two zebras, a donkey, and a water buffalo.
Skytop took his helmet off and walked before the sailors. He then greeted them in a zebra language, which started a dialogue between him and the zebra captain. As they conversed, Bluebell approached Flintfeather.
“Thanks searg- I mean sachem Flintfeather, for covering for me.”
The sachem gave her new counter a smile.
“It was no real problem Bluebell. As long as you do your best, I’ll protect you from quill eaters like Tall Oak. Besides, I’m sure we’ll toughen you up in short order.”
Bluebell felt very lucky to have Flintfeather as a leader.
Raised voices were suddenly heard from down the dock. The noise was coming from Skytop and the zebra captain. They were arguing over something, but their language was unknown to the other koas. 
“Whets this about now.”
Flintfeather went to investigate the ruckus. Sequoia and Pathfinder flanked their sachem to protect her just in case things got ugly. Bluebell made a move to follow the trio, but a hoof on her back held her at bay.
“Whoa, hold on there lass, don’t get to curious now.” Said a concerned Windcaller.
“Is there something wrong?”
Wincaller eyed the argument breaking out by the gangplank.
“Lets just say that when two very different cultures meet, words can be exchanged, or punches.”
Bluebell didn’t like the sound of punches, and leaned in closer to Windcaller.

Flintfeather marched up to Skytop, and called his attention.
“Ok Skytop, whats the problem?”
Skytop halted his argument with the foreighn capatain, and stepped close to his sachem.
“Captain Shakka is concerned that we might damage his cargo and wishes we not inspect it.” He said softly.
Flintfeather gave an angry glare.
“You can tell captain Shakka that he can bite a rock. I’m not letting him unload his cargo without us checking it first.”
“That’s what I ssaid! Well, not in so many words, but I told him he had to let us check his stuff before he could unload it on shore.”
Flintfeather looked past Skytop to see the foreign crew whispering amongst themselves. From their demeanor, their unwillingness to cooperate and the condition of their “ship”, she could see why Tall Oak had called them “sketchy”. She looked back at Skytop.
“Put your helmet on and tell them this; either let us check their cargo, or I’ll have them escorted out of the bay by two frigates.”
Skytop nodded, then re donned his helmet. Sequoia and Pathfinder readied themselves as Skytop turned to relay his boss’ message. The zebra captain looked furious and seemed ready to take up the deportation offer. But he finally conceded, and ordered his crew to start bringing crates to the dock for inspection.
Flintfeather gave a sigh of relief. She hated it when she had to stomp the earth to get someone to obey the law. She then turned around to look at Windcaller.
“Windcaller, fly up and keep an eye on the area. I don’t like the looks of this.”
Windcaller flew into the air and began to circle the boat. Flintfeather walked up to Bluebell.
“It’s time for you to learn what your job is on the team. Are you ready?”
“I sure am sachem.” Said Bluebell enthusiastically.
“Good.” Flintfeather took Bluebells ledger out of her sash and opened it to the front page. “So here’s the deal. One of our duties as koas of the Manasazi city guard is acting as customs officials. It’s our  job today to inspect each crate that comes out of that wreck of a boat and check it for contraband. Your job is to write down any and all information regarding the inspection within the charts in the ledger.” She pointed to the rows and columns on the facing page of the book. “Now these have to be written in Manasazi, so I’ll have Skytop help you translate until you get the hang of it. You got all that?”
Bluebell was too excited about starting her to answer in any coherent way. All she did was give an enthusiastic cheer, and took back the book.
“Good, I’ll send Skytop over. Assuming there wont be any more incidents.”

The inspection was going achingly slowly. The sailors were only bringing out one box at a time for them to inspect, and would only get the next one once the previous crate had been passed. The captain claimed to Skytop that they didn’t want to risk stacking the crates; in fear one might fall and damage the contents. The sailor’s suspicious behavior and speech only drove the koas to be extra cautious in their inspections.
Flintfeather observed Sequoia and Pathfinder searching of the crates. They opened each wooden box that was passed to them, looked inside, and shuffled through the contents. Once they were satisfied with what they saw, they re-locked the crate, and then carried it over to a cart. They made a good team for things like this. Sequoia could shape her malleable hooves to search in crevices other ponies could not, and Pathfinder… Pathfinder had a knack for sensing when things didn’t add up.
Sequoia motioned for her sachem to come over. Flintfeather hoped she had turned something up.
“Talk to me Sequoia, what did you find?”
Sequoia looked back at the loitering sailors, making sure they weren’t listening in, then addressed Flintfeather.
“Pathfinder and I think there’s something the sailors are trying to hide from us. We keep finding out weird things about the boxes.”
This caught Flintfeathers attention.
“What do you mean ‘weird’?”
Sequoia opened the crate they were currently looking over and reached inside.
“Look at this.” She said as she pulled out a claw full of dried up plant matter. The sachem looked at the mass closely.
“Tea leaves?”
“Yes, but the’re not in bags or packets, they’re just dumped in here like mulch, and these boxes aren’t even a third of the way filled. These crates aren’t very big, you would think a merchant would want to cram as much cargo as possible.”
Flintfeather didn’t like the looks of this. Tea leaves were often used to hide the scent of illegal and dangerous plants like fire pollen and poison joke.
“So you think they might be smuggling something organic?”
Sequoia poured the leaves back in the box.
“That’s the thing, there’s nothing else in these crates, its just loose moldy tea leaves.” Sequoia stirred the ground up leaves with her hoof to emphasize her point. “But there’s something else, look here.” She then ran a hoof along the crate where two planks of wood met. Looking closely, Flintfeather could see a sappy residue seeping from the joint.
“Is that an adhesive, on a box held together with nails?”
“Weird, I know.” Said Sequoia as she closed back up the crate. “Why would a wooden crate with nails already hammered into it need glue to stay together? Especially if its holding tea leaves, something that might have its taste ruined by any of the glue leaking into it.”
This was looking bad. Flintfeather was hoping Bluebells first day on the job wouldn’t involve an arrest, but circumstances were wishing otherwise. She looked at Pathfinder.
“What’s your take on this Pathfinder, are you sensing anything?”
The green stallion ran his hoof along the surface of the box, as if trying to feel for its secrets.
“I don’t think the cargo is of any concern, but the crates themselves. I suggest we prepare for an incident, I want Sequoia to try something.”
Flintfeather nodded in agreement.
“Alright you two, I’m going to set things up. Wait for my signal before you do anything.”
Sequoia and Pathfinder nodded before the sachem went over to Bluebell and Skytop. Skytop was currently in the process of showing bluebell he ropes of filling out a counter’s ledger. Or at least he was supposed to.
“So after I pulled all of those children out of the burning schoolhouse, I then put out the fire by-“
“How are things over here, making progress I hope?” Said Flintfeather, interrupting Skytop’s tall tales. Skytop looked embarrassed at being caught by his boss.
“Oh, I was just… Instructing Bluebell here on the many heroic deeds we are expected to perform while on duty. Yea… that’s what I was doing.”
Flintfeather was not impressed. Skytop was never good at coming up with convincing lies. Flintfeather looked down at bluebell.
“How are you doing Bluebell?”
“I think I’m getting the hang of these charts.” She said with a smile. “But I think it will be a while before I no longer need a translator for all of this.”
Flintfeather smiled in approval. She was happy to have someone as dedicated to learning as Bluebell on the team. It was too bad, then, that her first job might be cut short.
“I’m glad to hear it, but you might want to hold your pen for a second.”
Bluebell stopped her writing.
“What’s going on, is there something wrong?”
Flintfeather hated the situation more and more, and Bluebells worry stricken face wasn’t helping. She put a hoof on Bluebells shoulder.
“Don’t worry Bluebell, nothings going to happen to you, I’ll make sure of it.” She then turned to Skytop. “I need you to stand by Sequoia and Pathfinder just in case this whole thing takes a dive. I have a feeling I’ll need you to translate an arrest. Now where’s Windcaller?”
Flintfeather looked around for Windcaller, then spotted the mare walking along one of the masts on the zebra ship.
“Windcaller, come down here I need you to get us some drinks.” Flintfeather yelled up into the air. Windcaller heard her sachem, and quickly dove down to meet her.
“What do you need boss, did they find something?” She said in a hushed tone.
“Not yet.” Said Flintfeather. “But they might. I need you to disappear and be ready in case they do. I have a feeling these guys might be runners.”
“Six lemonades? Aye, I can get that for ye boss!” Windcaller exclaimed loudly. She then dashed out of sight, disappearing within the cargo cluttered docks. 
Bluebell was growing confused and worried. What was happening? Was she in danger? Why was Windcaller getting lemonades?
“Should I do anything?” She said with an edge of fear in her voice.
“Yes, Stay close.” Flintfeather sidled up to Bluebell and put her left hoof in front of the counters in protection. Bluebell then felt a wing reach over her back and hug her close to the armored mare.
“Sequoia, Pathfinder.” Flintfeather called out. “Continue your search.”
Sequoia received her sachems command, and proceeded with Pathfinders plan. She looked down on the wooden box and found a small nail peeking slightly out of its socket. She put her hoof to it, and then morphed it into the shape of a small crowbar. She then hooked her limb under the head of the nail and began to rock it out of its hold. As she extracted the nail, Sequoia could already see slivers of gold showing through its chromed exterior. The sailor watched in horror as she held the nail up in the air for all to see.
“Golden nails, electroplated to look like normal iron nails. I have to say this is a new one. Most creatures smuggle gold in chocolate bars and fake coins.”
Flintfeather knew the sailors were going to run, she could see it in their eyes. Sometimes she hated her job.
“Captain Shakka, you and your crew are under arrest for gold smuggling. Skytop, tell them they’re under arrest.”
Before Skytop could utter a single syllable, the donkey, the water buffalo, and the two zebras bolted down the dock as fast as their legs could carry them. Unfortunately for them, the koas of Manasazi were far faster. Sequoia leapt on the lot of them and lashed out with her two forlegs. She wrapped each arm around the necks of the donkey and one of the zebras, her flexible limbs coiling over them like black vines. Pathfinder was just as quick to grab the captain, holding the zebra in an iron hard headlock. This left the water buffalo for Skytop.
The buffalo was big, and well over twice the size of the broad bat pony. Skytop launched himself into the side of the horned behemoth, hoping to tip him over. This almost worked, but the beast was so massive that all it did was stall him. Thinking quickly, Skytop reached for one of the buffalo’s legs, but a loud “whack” could be heard as one of the large hooves collided with his armored torso. This allowed the uffolo to escape the koa’s grip and he once again dashed down the dock, right towards Flintfeather and Bluebell.
Flintfeather cursed in her native language. She gripped Bluebell tightly in her wing, and then launched the both of them out of the way of the charging bull. Bluebells heart leapt into her throat as she felt her hooves leave the ground. Flintfeather really hoped Windcaller was in position to take down the buffalo before he hurt someone.
Luckily she was. Before the buffalo was able to make it too far down the pier, a pale purple hoof shot out like lightning from behind a stack of barrels and struck the crook in the joint of his left foreleg. This seemingly minor blow bent the arm under the buffalo’s body and sent him veering into a wooden dock post.
Windcaller casually stepped out from behind the barrels and looked down at the dazed bovine. “Stay on the ground, scumbag, your not going anywhere!” She loved it when she could say stupid stuff like that.
Flintfeather stabilized Bluebell and retracted her wing from her back.
“You alright there Bluebell?”
Bluebell re-adjusted her glasses and nodded, not quite calm enough to communicate verbally.
“Good, because I need you to go find Tall Oak and tell him to send backup and a medic. Can you do that for me?”
Bluebell nodded again, then hurried away to find the high counter. Flintfeather turned to survey the damage on the pier. Sequoia had cuffed the donkey and two zebras to a dock horn. Skytop had recovered from his date with the buffalo’s hoof and was now locking the brute’s hind legs together with a set of cuffs. Windcaller just stood there, looking all too pleased with herself. The buffalo on the other hoof, was not pleased at all and he was being very vocal about it.
“What’s he wining about Skytop?” Asked Windcaller.
“He says you broke his arm, and that you’ll pay for humiliating him.”
Windcaller looked the prone buffalo in the eyes.
“I only dislocated it ye two horned toad. But I wish I had broken it, along with your jaw!”
Skytop was glad the buffalo couldn’t understand her and was not going to translate the mad mares insults.
“So.” Exclaimed Sequoia aloud to her friends. “Who here is looking forward to filling out paperwork?”

Bluebell watched as port authorities swept over the crime scene. When she was ordered to chase down the high counter, she didn’t know exactly what backup meant. It apparently meant 10 extra koas, a large prison cart with hoof cuffs chained to it, and a field medic.
The field medic was actually a bit unusual, at least, to Bluebell he was. He was a griffon, with white feathers and gray hind legs. He wore a white vest, and had a bag of medical supplies slung over his shoulder. 
“How are you two doing, any injuries?”
Flintfeather had gone back to standing by Bluebell in protection, something the unicorn appreciated very much. They were now being tended to by the griffon.
“I’m fine, thank you”. Bluebell said. The griffon was very polite and pleasant, something that went against Bluebells preconceived notions about them. Bluebell had been lead to believe by her friends at home that griffons were callus and aggressive, though she doubted any of her friends had actually met a griffon. Bluebell also noticed that his eagle talons had been ground down to dull points, probably to prevent any accidents.
“I’m fine as well.” Said Flintfeather. “But I think theres a buffalo who needs a arm popped back into place.”
The griffon gave an exhasperated look.
“I know, Windcaller was bragging about it while I was checking Skytop’s ribs. Don’t worry, his bones are fine, there’s just a brise. But I’m not looking forward to wrestling a buffalo’s arm back into place. Well, better get to it then.”
They watched as the griffon left to deal with the two horned convicts arm.
“He was nice.” Said Bluebell.” I’ve never met a griffon before.”
“You know Sequoia is nice too.” Said Flintfeather. “You shouldn’t be afraid of her.”
Bluebell looked down to the ground in shame.
“I know it’s just… She creeps me out. When I was little I would hear stories about changelings stealing little foals for not eating their broccoli or skipped school. Its not something I can easily get over.”
“You know many ponies would have the same reaction to me because I have wings like these.” Flintfeather said as she lifted up her left bat wing. Bluebell looked at it and while it was strange, the claw shaped wing just didn’t have the same impact as Sequoia’s insect like features and hole-riddled legs. Although, Bluebell did see something she hadn’t before. The edges of Flintfeather’s membranous wings were colored dark gray, as if she had dipped her wings partially in gray paint.
“Trust me Bluebell.” Said the sachem as she lowered her wing. “There are things far more deserving of your fear in this world than Sequoia.”
Flintfeather’s lesson was punctuated by the loud cry of a buffalo having his leg snapped back into its socket.
Flintfeather could tell the little unicorn wasn’t trying to bee mean or hurtful. Flintfeather had seen plenty of meanness directed towards Sequoia and this wasn’t it. Bluebell was just trying to cope with a new world and this crime scene wasn’t doing her any favors. She needed to get Bluebell out of here fast Flintfeather looked over to see Skytop putting his armor back on.
“Skytop, come over here, I’ve got a job for you.”
Skytop applied his helmet and trotted over to his sachem.
“What do you need boss?”
“First, how are the ribs?”
Skytop chuckled. “They’re fine, that buffalo kicked like a grasshopper.”
“Glad to hear it.” Said Flintfeather. “Now I need you to take Bluebell here off the site. There’s not much she can do while port authorities have the place taken care of anyway.”
“Where do you want me to take her?” Skytop asked.
“Take her to the Coral Shores Coffee Shop, they have menus there she can read. You know what coffee is right Bluebell?”
Bluebell nodded with a smile. “We have coffee in Canterlot.”
“Good, just stick to Skytop. And Skytop.” She said as she looked towards the blue-coated koa. “Don’t let her order something too strong. I don’t want a repeat of the last time you brought a pony to a coffee shop.”
He gave a guilty stare for a few seconds.
“OK.”

Skytop brought Bluebell further inland, to a small coffee shop that overlooked the coast. The shop was pleasant and roomie, as unlike the crowded cliffs of the main city, the open coast offered more space for tables. Bluebell looked out to the beachfront to see a coast of dark cobble and jagged stone. There wasn’t a speck of the white sand bluebell was used to seeing in magazines.
When they were given a menu Bluebell was happy to see that they were translated into her language, as well as about five others. Skytop ordered a mug of pitch-black coffee, which he took and immediately saturated with sugar. Bluebell was never a fan of coffee, so she ordered a mug of hot chocolate. Although when she got it, she wasn’t sure if they had heard her order correctly. What she got was a mug of a dark, viscous sludge that looked more like crude oil than hot coco. Skytop could see the confusion in Bluebells eyes.
“You accidentally got the real stuff. Sorry that I didn’t catch it when you ordered.”
Bluebell sipped the bitter concoction.
“What do you mean? I’ve never heard of this before.”
“That’s because you ordered xocolatl, it’s a far less processed version of what you’re used to, which we in Manasazi call children’s cocoa.”
Bluebell looked a little embarrassed but continued to sip the bitter drink.

After Bluebell had drained her small cup to about halfway, she decided to ask Skytop about something she had noticed about him but was too afraid to ask while the others were around.
“Hey Skytop, can I ask you a weird question?”
Skytop finished drinking the rest of his coffee. “Well sure, what do you want to know?”
Bluebell took a minute to formulate how she would ask this question. She didn’t want to offend her new friend after all.
“Its your eyes. I’ve noticed tat your pupils are rounded while the eyes of every other bat pony I’ve seen are slit-like.” Bluebell almost instantly regretted asking after she said the question aloud. Luckily, Skytop was not at all offended.
“Oh that. Yeah, I don’t have slit shaped pupils like most bat ponies, but there’s actually a very good explanation for that. I’m entirely a bat pony.”
Bluebell took a moment to attempt to process this information. Once her brain had given up she simply asked.
“What?”
“Yea, I’m half unicorn.”
Bluebell still was having trouble understanding what the clearly non-unicorn pony in front of her was trying to explain to her.
“What?”
Bluebells confusion was actually confusing Skytop. He didn’t see what was so complicated about what he was saying.
“Well my dad is a Manasazi bat pony, and my mom is a unicorn from Canterlot. So I got my dads wings, while I have my mom’s eyes and ears. I also have my moms silky smooth mane.” Skytop ran his hoof through his hair to demonstrate its brilliance. “But trust me, I would much rather be a unicorn.”
Bluebell had never met some pony like this. Most if not all of the ponies she knew where from pureblooded families.
“Is that… normal to have different kinds of ponies as parents?”
“Its more common to have mixed parents in Manasazi than it is in other cities.” Explained Skytop. “But I’m kind of unusual, as most ponies who have mixed families are half bat pony and half earth pony. My dad met my mom when he went on a business trip to Canterlot. They fell in love and she ran off with him. My mom had kind of a falling out with her parents because of that, so I’ve never met my relatives in Canterlot. But I do know I have two cousins who I really want to meet someday.”
“Well when I visit Canterlot for heaths warming eve, I’ll be more than happy to take you with me.”
Skytop smiled at the little unicorn. “I would like that very much.”
Bluebell was about to take another sip of her sludge when she saw Skytop’s eyes grow wide.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
Skytop put his hooves together nervously. “Hello dark koa, what can we do for you?”
Bluebell turned around in her seat to face whoever Skytop was talking to and immediately wished she hadn’t. Standing directly behind her was the imposing form of a bat pony in dark, sinister looking armor. Bluebell immediately turned back around to face Skytop again and froze. She didn’t want to face the menace that had appeared behind her. She hadn’t even heard him walking up to her.
“W-what’s behind me?” Bluebell asked in a quivering voice.
It’s a royal guard.” Answered Skytop. “Don’t panic, they can smell your fear.”
Bluebell was already well into panicking. “Why is he here?”
Her answer came in a low, cold voice. “I am here to take you to the palace. You have been summoned by royal order and I am to personally escort you.”
The royal guards voice was almost as bad as scary as he was. Bluebell, having no idea why she was being arrested by the soldier that stood behind her, was almost in tears, and refused to turn to face the metal monster.
“Am I in trouble? I didn’t do anything wrong I swear!”
Skytop had enough of this. He got up out of his seat and walked himself between the dark koa and the crying bluebell. “What’s this about spook? Since when are royal guards sent to pick up a civilian?” Skytop put up a good front, but deep down he was deathly afraid of the figure before him. Manasazi royal guard were notorious for their brutal treatment of those who got in their way and Skytop was well aware that he could easily end up on the ground with 4 broken legs if he pushed he spook too far. But he was more than willing to stand up for a friend, even if it meant he might end up worse than the water buffalo. 
The royal guard looked Skytop right in the eyes, any emotion hidden behind a metal mask. “Stand down koa, I’m not here to hurt the little pony. I was sent by the princess to bring Ms. Bluebell to a royal tea party being held at the palace.”
Bluebell perked her head up at the words “royal tea party.” I’ve been invited to the palace, for a tea party? A royal tea party?! Why?”
Skytop hastily stepped out from between Bluebell and the spook to let them talk. He suddenly felt very silly having made a scene.
“I was not told the specifics of your invitation, just that I am to bring you straight to the palace immediately.”
Bluebell looked over to Skytop. He gave her a nod, as if to say “Better do what it says.” Bluebell looked up at the royal guard while wiping water from her eyes.
“I would be honored to attend the royal tea party. Thank you.” Bluebell got down from her seat, then realized a possible problem. “Can we take a cart? It’s a bit of a walk back to the city and I’m not very fast on my feet.”
Skytop winced when he heard Bluebells request. She really had no idea who she was talking to. This was a pony who would sooner drag the poor unicorn than take the time to hail a taxi.
“I have brought a suitable transport to ferry you to the palace. Now come with me.”
Skytop relaxed. “Well I guess ill see you later Bluebell, have fun at the tea party. Oh, and try not to make any sudden movements.”
“All right,, bye Skytop!” Bluebell shouted as she was lead away by the armored guard.
Skytop stood there, watching his unicorn friend disappear down a busy street with a big spooky pony at her side. “Great”, he thought, “How am I going to explain this to Flintfeather.”