The Record Friction Chronicles:A new beginning

Chapter 8

Residents of Ponyville

Record, Zee, and Cyber arrived in Ponyville later that evening. All three of them were tired from the train ride, which took longer then they had expected. They all checked into a motel for the night. Record paid for two rooms, one for him and Cyber and the other for Zee. Record wobbled tiredly to his room. When he walked in, he flopped onto the bed and let out a big breath of air and Cyber did the same. Zee walked into the room to tell them goodnight but both had already fallen asleep. She smiled, closed the door behind her, and went to her room.
The next morning Record woke up to a low buzzing sound. The sound drifted over his face, paused, then moved again toward his right ear. He popped open one eye and glared in disgust at a parasprite. The bug fluttered over and landed on the tip of his nose. He swatted it away, and when it took shelter on his pillow, he smacked his hoof down to crush it, but missed. Record grumbled obscenities under his breath. Flapping it's tiny wings, the parasprite buzzed over to Cyber's bed and landed on Cyber's forehead. After a moment of hesitation, he crept over to his bed. He raised his hoof slowly, giving the bug one last chance to move.

"Don't think I won't do it." He whispered. The parasprite only responded by laughing at him. Record brought his hoof down fast and hard. The slapping sound his hoof made when it hit Cyber's skin echoed throughout the room but was shortly cover by a loud yelp from Cyber, who sat up quickly.

"DUDE!"

"There was a parasprite." Cyber rubbed his forehead, snarling in disgust.

"Well, did you at least kill it?"

"I think so." Said Record with a smile. He stretched tiredly. He turned to the door and walked out and the parasprite buzzed by his head and Record cursed under his breath again. As he walked out he was greeted by the sound of chirping birds. He smiled widely and took in a deep breath of air on the cool pre-winter morning. The sunlight shone down on him as snow began to gently fall and melt as the flakes touched the ground. There was another noise behind him on the building. He turned around and Zees door opened slowly. His smile grew bigger as he saw the beautiful blue mare walk out.

"Good morning Record." Said Zee tiredly. Without hesitation Record responded.

"Good morning Zee, how'd you sleep?"

"I slept good." Said Zee as she yawned.

"That's good." Record smiled and looked into her eyes. Zees eyes glistened in the sunlight and her purple mane had a beautiful shine to it. Record couldn't help but blush when he looked at her and he turned his head away trying to hide it. Cyber walked out right as Record was about to speak. Good timing too Record had always had trouble talking to mares other than his mother or sister.

"So where are these colts anyway?" Asked Cyber. Records expression went from a blushing smile to a normal grin at his question.

"Well Princess Celestia said they we're here in ponyville."

"That doesn't really help that much." Said Zee.

"No, but we can ask around town for the two. What did the princess say their names were again?" Cyber responded immediately to the question.

"Darzell and Nightstory."

"Darzell and Nightstory huh? Alright let's go ahead and start asking around town." Said Record still grinning. They all walked along the trail to the center of town. The party came to a halt as they walked up to the town hall. Mayor mare was walking out of the town hall as they walked up. Record knew she could help.

"E-excuse me?" Said Record.

"Oh hello there. I don't believe I've seen you around here before."

"No ma'am we just got into town last night. I'm Record Friction...and these are my friends Cyber and Sleepy Zee."

"D-did you just say y-you were R-R-Record F-Friction?" Asked the mayor as her jaw dropped.

"Yes..." Record raised an eyebrow and turned his head as she asked that.

"Oh my goodness don't tell anypony but I am a huge fan of your music." She said being jittery with the smile of a filly in a candy store with 20 bits.

"Oh, well thank you." Record smiled as he said those words. He cleared his throat to speak again, taking a second attempt at his introduction. "I'm Record Friction and these are my friends, Cyber Wolf and Sleepy Zee."

Cyber and Zee smiled at Mayor Mare which was shortly followed by a "Hello" from each of them. The mayor did the same.

"So, what brings you three to our small city if I may ask?" She said.

"We're actually looking for two ponies by the request of Princess Celestia." Record said with a grin. "Their names are Darzell and Nightstory."

Mayor Mare put her hoof up to her chin in thought. A long minute of silence passed. The only sounds that could be heard were ponies talking at a distance, birds singing as if being orchestrated, and the sound of running water to the south flowing freely. Finally the silence was broken when the mayor spoke.

"I'm sorry, I don't know anypony by those names. However you're more than welcome to take a look at the 'Residential Occupants of Ponyville'. It's a book at the public library of all of the current living residents here. However it's restricted to public eyes, I'll have to write you a referal."

"It's okay, we can wait." Record said happily.

"Very well then, I'll go ahead and write you a referal. It should take no more than 5 minutes." She said with a smile. Mayor mare walked back into the building. Record, Cyber, and Zee waited patiently outside for her to return and again the silence returned.
The mayor walked back out again exactly 5 minutes later with a pink slip of parchment. She seemed exhausted, Record narrowed it down to her working so hard and getting very little sleep due to her job. He felt selfish for making her work like that, but if he wanted to find Darzell or Nightstory this was the only way.

"Here you are Mr. Friction." Said the mayor as she gave Record the slip of paper. "Now I do hope you find who you're looking for."

"Thank you ma'am. Have a great day now." Record said bowing his head. The others bowed their head in gratitude.

"I wish the same to you as well." Said Cyber.

"As do I." Said Zee. They all smiled and the mayor replied with a grin.

"Thank you, and you three have a wonderful day as well."

They all walked off; Record, Cyber, and Zee in one direction and Mayor Mare in the opposite direction. The grouped walked for about fifteen minutes. Records and Zees hooves started becoming tired but as Cyber was flying everywhere looking for the library. They probably should have asked where the library was and what it looked like.
Finally they came up to a pony. The pony was a mare with an orange coat and blonde hair, wearing a big brown hat and her cutie mark was three red apples. Record suddenly remembered something. This was the same mare he saw just before Zero attacked. His mind started racing with questions. Who is she? Why is she here? Why was she at the castle? Record also needed to find a way to the library. He figured she was a local so she might know where to go. Record began walking up to her when he looked back at Cyber. Cybers jaw fell ajar and his gaze fixed the orange mare, he seemed to be in a trance. Record shruged and walked up to her.

"Hello." Said Record politely. "I'm Record Friction and I-" Record was cut off when he felt a firm grip on his hoof that was suddenly being heavily shake.

"Hey there Mr. Friction, Ah'm Applejack nice to meet ya." She said, letting go of Records hoof. Records hoof was numb but he just punched the air to get blood circulation flowing again and smiled at her.

"Nice to meet you too Applejack. These are my friends, Cyber and Zee."

Applejack looked at both of them and smiled. He walked up to Zee first and shook hooves with her and they both, friendly but formally, introduced themselves. Finally Applejack walked up to Cyber who was in a cold sweat. His legs shook nervously, his eyes were blinking quickly and he was taking short quick breaths. Applejack giggled at him and smiled.

"Nervous partner?" She said.

"N-n-nervous? I-I'm not nervous...its j-just uhh...really cold out here y-yeah that's it." He said looking to his left and right. Applejack smirked at him.

"Is that so? Well my name's Applejack nice to meet ya." She said holding out her hoof. Cyber reached out and shook her hoof slowly.

"I'm C-C-C-C-Cy-Cyber W-Wolf." He said with tension in his voice.

"Cyber Wolf? That's a nice name ya got." Cyber blushed and turned away trying to hide it. Record smiled, he knew what Cyber was feeling. "So what brings y'all to Ponyville?"

"We came by the request of Princess Celestia in search of two colt to stop an impending devastation." Said Record.

"English please!" Exclaimed Applejack.

"P-Princess Celestia told us to find two colts here in Ponyville. The mayor already told us to look at a book of everypony living here and she said it was in the library, but we're having trouble finding it. C-could you help us Applejack?" Asked Cyber, finally able to collect himself. Applejack smiled at Cyber.

"'Ah sure can. Now what ya do is go down this street till ya see a giant oak tree with windows and a door. That oak tree is the library and it's also my friend, Twilights, home. If ya see her there tell her 'ah said 'Hi' would ya."

"Of course, thanks the help Applejack." Said Record.

"No problem at all, now 'ah really need to get back to my farm and get to work." She said with a smile.

"A farm?" They all asked at the same time.

"Yeah, I run Sweet Apple Acres with my brother and my Granny. Its not easy but we get by everyday with the money we make." Cyber bit his bottom lip and looked down in thought then he looked back up.

"Would you like some help on the farm?" Asked Cyber. Applejack smiled at Cyber.

"That'd be great, you wouldn't mind would ya?"

"Not at all." Cyber smiled widely at Applejack as he looked her in the eyes.

"Well thank ya, y'all can tag along too if y'all want." Record shook his head and looked down.

"Sorry but I have to find these colts."

"Well that's alright y'all come by whenever y'all want though Sweet Apple Acres is open for anypony."

"Thanks Applejack, c'mon Zee let's find the library."

As they said that Cyber walked with Applejack to her farm while Record and Zee walked in the path Applejack told them. Record and Zee walked for a good minute before they found the oak tree Applejack was talking about. They both trotted up to the door. Record used his magic and held the door open for Zee. She walked in smiling and Record walked in behind her.
As they walked in there were many ponies browsing books. But what caught his eye were two colts over in the corner looking at what looked like horror genre books.
One of the colts were a light gray unicorn, almost like Record but a little darker. His mane and tail were sloppy as if he was insane, or just woke up from a slumber. Record chose the latter. His mane and tail was also gray with random dark streaks. But what really got his attention was the colts cutie mark. It was a simple everyday quill. But why a quill? Maybe he was a good writer Record thought. But this colt lacked any trace of color on him and that's what drew Records attention to him.
The second colt seemed strange though. He was a rich yellow pegasus with wigs unlike any other. His wing were almost like giant hands. Record tried to picture where those wings looked familiar from, but then it hit him.
Growing up Record always enjoyed the Ponymon comic books. His favorite edition was the book 'The summon of Lugia'. That's what this colts wings were, they were lugias wings. But how he got them was far beyond his comprehention.
The colts mane color was an ocean blue with a streak of sky blue down the side of it. His tail was the same. Lastly, his cutie mark was of a beautiful rose on top of a red flame.
Record didn't know what drew his attention to these two but something about them seemed important. Record looked to his left to see a lavender unicorn standing to his side. Records heart skipped a beat at the sudden shock of her being there. The purple mare looked at him worried and spoke slowly.

"Oh I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to say hello." Said the mare. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." Zee smiled at Record and spoke heartly.

"What's wrong Record? Scared? Shy?" She said playfully.

"Hey it was just unexpected is all." Said Record chuckling. "Anyway nice to meet you Twilight I'm Record Friction. I was in search of a book that might be restricted."

"Of course, do you have a referal from somepony of high authority?"

"Yes he does." Said Zee who pulled the slip out of her satchel. "It fell out of your satchel when we were looking for this place, you really need to tighten the strap." She said as she gave Record the slip of paper.
Twilight took the referal and read it very carefully, signature and everything.

"Alright, this checks out okay. So the book on current residents living here, yes I know where that is one second please." She said as she upstairs to the second floor.
Record and Zee waited paitiently for twilight to return. As they waited for twilight to return the ponies standing in the corner walk over to them. Record turned his head and looked at them both.
They both had a smile on their face as they looked at Record. Record smiled back and looked at them.

"Hello?" said Record.

"Hi." said the gray pony.

"Um...can I help you two?"

"We wanted to ask you something." Said the yellow pony. Record stood in front of Zee and took a calm defensive position and looked at them.

"Go ahead!"

"Are you the one who's asking around about Darzell and Nightstory?" Asked the gray pony.

"Yeah, who's asking?"

The gray pony slowly extended his hoof as did the yellow pony. Both had a huge smile on their face.

"I'm Nightstory." Said the gray pony.

"Darzellflameus...but you can just call me Darze or Darzell."

Record smiled widely when he met them. Finally this wild goose chase was over and now he could tell them everything. But something felt off.
Twilight came back worried and looked around frantically. Everypony looked at twilight as she slowly began to speak.

"ALL...T-THE DARK M-MAGIC SPELL BOOKS...HAVE BEEN STOLEN." Everypony instantly started to worry even Record. Who could have done this? But the real question was why? Record turned to Nightstory and Darzell.

"Follow me, I'll tell you everything on the way." Said Record quickly as he walked out the door. The others followed behind Record quickly all scared from what Twilight said. "Okay everypony...here's what's going on."