Chapter 8; Canterlot

Leaving the Throne room, the doors opened by themselves to reveal my pony friends again, this time actually celebrating with Pinkie Pie's cannon 'o Part-a and one-pony band. All of them yelling "SUPRISE!!!". I stood speechless in awe.

"Were you suprise? Cause we had a" Pinkie Pie fired her cannon once more; "boat load of fun setting this up and to celebrate!" I regained my thoughts after that minor mind burst and got on topic. "Well suprised I am, Pinkie, ya finally caught me off guard. Though I would celebrate, but I got issues to deal with, two of which I can do now."

Applejack began to walk up; "Mike, ya gotta take a break every once in awhile. Life ain't all bout work'n, its bout having fun with ya friends!"

"I don't doubt you Applejack, but it is about ya'll. Do ya'll really trust me? Take me in as one of your own when I could be a possible threat?" I said with curiosity and the cat looming in my head. Twilight being first to respond; "Of course we do Mike, what are friends who don't trust eachother!"

"With that said," Rarity continued; "I think it goes for each one of us here."

With an answer to that, I began once more, "Well, I trust ya'll too. Secondly, I don't mind a question or two from ya'll, I know your curious but I got some things that I'd rather keep private, and plain and simply, annoying with a constant hurricane of questions."

"Thats understandable fer me." The farm pony accepting my request.

"But, how do you know so much about us???" Pinkie Pie asked, bypassing my statement.

"One, common sense, I'm your friend. Two, the history of humans reveal such creatures as yourself, my uncle used to own what I'd guess is one of your ancestors." I began walking as they followed.

"What about pegasi? Wasn't there pegasi?" Rainbow Dash said while flying in my face. "Yes," I said pushing her aside; "I personally didn't see one myself, but there were tales, same with Unicorns."

"Please tell me they at least have a good sense of fashion??" I looked over at Rarity who looked somewhat worried; "That my friend was up to their owner's choice, back then we were the dominate species, so I guess time passed, war raged and you guys survived along with other creatures, or something like that. I'm not so certain to what may have happened in the spreaded time period." I said starting to wonder, what really did happen that led to this.

Beginning our way on the streets just outside the castle, Spike began "Twilight, c'mon I want some donuts!" while rubbing his stomach area. "I could use something to eat myself." I said in agreement, though I was more interested in looking at the city up close.

Twilight breaking my site seeing, "Then lets go eat, then we'll look around the city." Thus, we started on our way towards the donut shop that Spike so desperately wanted to go to. Thinking about many things, materials I'll need, equipment and tools that the time machine would require. I began doing what I usually do for plans, drift my visual from my eyes to mental vision. As helpful as it is, I can't hold it with interruptions, such as Rainbow Dash; "Hey, Mike. Feeling up for a race?"

I went back to reality, and asked her "Where to?"

"To the Donut shop, its down this street." She stated pointing her hoof down the road to a donut sign towards the end of the road. I nodded; "Alrighty, wanna try running instead of flying? I think its fair that way."

"No wings, no way!" She barked back, as she crossed her fore-hooves. "I'd be up fer a little race, since somepony doesn't wanna play fair with ya." Applejack said glaring at me then to Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasis paused and finally gave in saying; "Oh fine, I won't fly."

We lined up side by side taking our stands. "Ya'll ready?" I said looking at them. "ee-yup" Applejack said followed by Rainbow Dash; "Ready to win!". I took one last glimpse to the target and the path we would travel. Finally, I shouted the one chaotic word; "GO!"

We started in a mad scrambling run towards the donut shop, which was just out of sight. I ran at a half-sprint-jog pace, and found an easy path above the streets and taking only 4 steps was on the rooftops.

"Hey, he flew!" Rainbow Dash said when she noticed me above the road. I kept to my footing instead of replying completely saying something that was supposed to mean 'I used items to my advantage'.

Still running, Applejack led ahead with Rainbow Dash just on her neck, I was behind them. I saw the donut shop and bushes not far from it. "Perfect" I said to myself as I took the final sprint, jumping right off in front of the other two ponys, rolling out of the bushes and to my feet to complete the dash.

Applejack noticed and began to tease, "Look at that, he can run faster than" pausing for air; "Dash here!" "Not on my watch!" she said in reply as she started catching up to me. The donut shop was maybe 50 meters away as I began my sprint leading myself ahead of the others. Applejack and Rainbow Dash began to catch up to me as we grew closer to the donut shop. Finally, taking one last step, the three of us finished at the same split second.

I leaned over to pant, and said what I could; "Well then, wings give ya, speed Rainbow." I stopped leaning forward to crack my back.

"What are you talking about?!" Rainbow Dash barked "I clearly won there!" I felt insulted by her, and started back at her, "If you won, then how could you prove it? There was no slow-mo cam."

Sticking up was Applejack, before another thing was said, "I reckoned we all won."

The cyan pegasis looked as if she was thinking about something after, then was interrupted by the others who didn't race. "Well then, you all look tired." Twilight said walking past us with the baby dragon set upon her back.

Rarity continued on after obvious observations; "Who won your petty scramble then?" Seeming insulted, Rainbow Dash boasted; "I beat them both without my wings!"

"I'ma letcha go on that one, I'm too hungry to argue." Applejack said beginning to walk into the donut shop, I had few words still; "Agreed, shall we feast?"

"Of course! What in Equestria are you waiting for, lets go!" Spike said with such enthusiasm, such that I did not have the energy to express.

We enter the donut shop and got ourselves free donuts thanks to Twilight, so that I was thankful for. They were actually pretty good Donuts too! We just ate, not even bothering to chat much at all. When we finished, we headed out to roam Canterlot. "Alright, where to begin the tour?" I asked as I looked at the skylines. Twilight darted "The Castle Library!".

Applejack continuing; "The city's marketplace!"

"Uw! Uw! The Party and surprise Store!!!" Pinkie said hopping around me.

Rainbow Dash then hovering into my face "The Wonderbolts Stadium!"

"The Gardens!" Fluttershy said shoving the cyan pony out of the way, to my surprise. Yet, Rarity had the last say; "Fashion shopping!".

I simply looked around ignore them as they tried to enforce where they wanted to go. Pushing everything out and entering my mind once more, I thought of everything in a matter of seconds in my quiet conscious, remembering my time machine's blueprints. I then jumped out of dreamland. "Hey! Stop fighting, I know where we are going."

My pony friends looked at me suddenly, the purple unicorn beginning; "Where to?".

"Well, duh!" Pinkie Pie began, "We are going to Paaarrrr-ttaaahh!"

"Sorry, but no Pinkie. Now I understand all of what you guys want, and we will get to it. I would like to find the metal smiths around here, I need some materials, metals to be specific." I said taking control of the discussion.

Spike jumped in, pointing his finger down a road "That's towards the Markets!"

"Then thats where we'r head'n" Applejack said walking off. "After that, we will go to the next closest place and so forth, agreed, no arguements" Concluding myself as we began our way towards the forgery.

Rainbow Dash , though, had her own questions; "Why do you even need metals?"

I gathered my thoughts for a second and explained, "I will be going back in time to bring a friend, I may need to re-make a generator, restore my time machine, and create a return device."

"Can I come?! Can I come?! I want to see my greatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreat grandparents!" The hopping, overloaded with sugar, pink pony composed.

"Unfortunately, no," I began once again, "you cannot. Its signed on contract by Celestia herself. And its just a theory, not a fact."

Pinkie Pie fell flat on her face, lifted out of the ground saying one word, "Awwwww!"

Hovering over, Fluttershy asked; "What was your world like? Did it have all sorts of cute little animals?"

"Yes, there were animals, ranging from many sea critters, to variety of rainforest animals, to thousands of birds, to mammals as ourselves." I paused, savoring the moment. "Just, up until war raged, I only saw a couple cockroaches here and there."

"Say, what did our ancestors do anyhow? The orange, southern accented pony asked. I had a simple historic explanation; "Well, most of the time they were a working mammal, being faster than humans like myself, they were roughened up and trained by their owner. Horses date back thousands of years before I came to be, some working on ranches to help herd cattle, transport people in carriages, and at times, served in wars. I'd almost say mans 2nd best friend."

"Who was the first best?" Twilight followed. "Dog is mans best friend," I began; "though I don't thats the case anymore."

We had a quick laugh time, until Spike began; "Over there, look! The Metal Steeds Forge is over there!"

"Alright, lets hope they got some titanium alloy." I stated as Rainbow Dash followed fuddled "Titani-what now?"

It slipped my mind, never telling them about our makings, "It's a light-weight, durable metal compound. It was used for many stealth fighters and bombers, which I forgot, I should look into re-creating flight of man."

"WAIT!" Dash darted; "Humans can fly?!!"

"How? You don't have magic or wings!" Twilight reinforced.

On the other hand, I had a counter statement; "But we had brains. Humans were always fascinated by the bird, and always tried to mimic its flight. Around a century before I was born, a pair of brothers, commonly known as the Wright Brothers, created and flew the first known, motorized controlled aircraft. Thus, adjustments were made and we came to metal works and all sorts of things. Have any of you seen lighting flash in the sky?"

Walking into the smoked smithy as they nodded. "That is static electricity, an unstable form of electricity, but I require a stable form of it"

Rarity then spoke up, "I've always hated metal, its like a gentlecolts diamonds."

"Oh, but we used diamonds as jewelry, and for our tools!" I continued "Diamonds are a hard substance used alot by humans. In fact, I should have a broach my mother gave me, encrested with 50 diamonds exactly."

As we walked up to the counter, we saw a colt with a nametag saying 'Bill' and he greeted us. "Welcome to the Metal Steeds Forge, what can I getch-ya'll?" The burly stallion said with a deep yet firm voice.

Forgetting not to mind a person's, or pony's voice, I began "Yes, you wouldn't happen to have any titanium alloy, would you?" Now I was a little shocked, my voice compared to his was like a whisper in a rock concert.

"Titanium? I've never heard of a metal like that." Bill responded thinking I was off my head, I think he too is surprised by a person like me.

"It's a compound alloy," I said; "do you mix metals?"

The smoke-bellowed horse continued, "Yes, but titanium was never a metal we made." Turning his head behind him; "Steve! Do you know anything about a 'titanium' of some sort?"

Another colt walked up towards the counter wearing a blacksmith's suit. Resembling a robot somewhat, he scared Fluttershy who hid behind me.

"Yes, I know titanium," He began with I voice similar to Bill's, but sounded more intellectual. "what do ya need titanium for?"

"A device, the Princess herself signed off for me to make and use. Does that prove authority?" I said with-holding my dignity. Lifting his mask, Steve stared at me for a few seconds rubbing his chin, finally saying; "Very well, but we do not sell it here however. Our distributors do, we could make a special order and receive it by month's end. How much do you require?"

Taking a few moments to do some mental math, I concluded; "100 Ingots of Titanium should do, and you wouldn't happen to sell smithing tool too, would ya?"

"Alright, 100 titanium bars, steel clamp and hammer. Anything else?" Steve asked as he turned. I had nothing else, "Thats bout it."

Steve walked back to his place as Bill began to total up. "Total will be about 1362 bits."

The others seemed in shock, but I expected a hefty expense, but not as low as this, I practically had a third of that already. "Could there be a way for me to just pay you when the order arrives? I won't need the tools until I get the metal." I asked, hoping to get away with that atleast.

The stallion took a second, and said with his deep voice again; "I suppose so, but once the shipment comes, you have a week to collect it, or it'll be removed from reservation. Deal?"

I looked at Bill in the eyes, and finished, "Got ourselves a deal, mate. I'll be back round the end of the month."

We shook, hand to hoof on the deal. Following that, we left the smoldering smith shop to a breath of fresh air. Upon leaving, I was only to listen to Twilight ranting on. "Mike, What the hay were you thinking?!"

"We can't all just help you all the time darling." Rarity followed up.

"Just hold the pity," I said to stop them for a bit, "I already have about half that, and I'm sure I can take a loan out."

"Taking a loan is the last thing you'd ever want to do." Applejack countering, followed by the elegant unicorn; "Loans aren't for sipping wine dear."

My mind went into my memories again, soon after, Rainbow Dash began; "Lets go back in there and-"

I cut her off; "Wait, what did you say Rarity?" She looked at me with curiosity, "We can't just-"

Cutting Rarity off; "After that, about the wine."

"A loan is not for wine sipping?" She replied once more, even more confused than before.

"Ok, forget the money issue, thats done and out of the question." I said dropping the problem, I felt the need to keep details a surprise. The other ponys ganged together and looked at me as if I've gone mad. Fluttershy began the words on their faces; "What do you mean by that?"

"Yah? Don't tell me you're going to hold bets and drinking contests..." Twilight assumed drastically.

"Not at all," I digressed "I'll explain later. Back in Ponyville, I don't need people, or ponys, to know my secret."

"A secret?! Don't worry, we can Pinkie Promise!" Pinkie said as she began the motions; "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

With holding a laugh, letting a couple chuckles out, I reminded; "Just lay off, like ya'll said earlier, lets enjoy ourselves."

We went on through the rest of Canterlot. My pony friends were still unaware to what else I had locked up in my cellar, plenty of great things. I have to say, the city is quite huge for a cliff-hung town. Though Princess Celestia did get the best of my curiosity, I had greater plans and ideas to deal with.

Elsewhere...

A dark land, filled with odd, winged insects roamed as drones for a queen. Descending below the dreaded surface, led to a cave, dripping water every-other second. Another odd insect, much larger to the others sat upon a stone, throne-like seat. Greeny-blue flames lit the chamber, as the mighty insect, the Queen perhaps, bore her lusting snake-eyes into a puddle where the water was collecting. The drips of water showed a new image, like a radar, tracking an aircraft. Images of the Mane 6, and another, odd being, and monkey almost. The queen bared no more to watch, shouting in some sort of insect hiss. The fires went out, and sinister laughters were echoed.

Author's Note

Alright, that took awhile to retype, but I will be changing up my writing style, between 3rd and 1st person. I hope you enjoyed yourself reading my stories, and I'll try to keep up to a weekly bases, releasing each part on Saturdays. So check in next week and enjoy yourself.