Chapter 6: Ground

Ampere was relieved to be rid of that stuffy office.  He was accustomed to its boring environment but even he had his needs.  The air of Dusk-at-Dawn was not particularly fresh, but it was somewhat better than the office.  Smog found its place in the congested streets.  Trolleys constantly rang - passersby were alerted and ran - and the chugs of Model T Fjord “Automated Carriages” polluted the air.  Away from the roads, the Plaza of Dusk was populated more so with pedestrians rather than clanking machines.  Laughter, gossip, and pestering advertisements (hailing from iron lungs) found their homes here but Ampere had filtered them out.

The Plaza of Dusk was one of the two "hearts" of Dusk-at-Dawn; home to a myriad of outlets, recreational spaces, and lively ponies.  Street performers danced - whether for cash or passion - as ponies browsed goods from cheap stalls or beautifully-made marble stores.  From an aerial view, the plaza's centre was made by a magnificent fountain in which outlets existed on its fringes with due space.  This radial design was further split into quarters, with Brown Gold situated on the top right quadrant.  Ampere looked both ways before crossing the road in order to get to the right side.  The sidewalk would later merge with the plaza.

Brown Gold was not an open-air shop, rather, an inside shop but it did feature outside sitting.  It was usually crowded; moderately priced coffee would have something to do with it.  Ampere saw an open table outside and assumed that he would have to take it.  He stepped inside the shop.  He was right.

The shop was crowded and most of the employees were stressed.  Ampere waited in line.  Patience was a virtue and he knew this.  When his turn came Ampere ordered a medium mocha frappuccino and a croissant sandwich.  He opened his wallet, paid the mare three bits, and then started walking to an open spot in the shop.  However, a large cookie on display had caught his eye and then the asked the clerk if he could buy that as well.  He paid her half a bit and then resumed walking to an open spot.

A minute or so later, he picked up his food and went outside.  His spot was still open and so he proceeded to sit down and eat his meal.  The croissant sandwich wasn't his usual, but he'd go for anything that was hay and cheese.  He wasn't much of a condiment guy.  The big cookie was individually wrapped in plastic and was tantalizing to eat first.  A young mare walked out of the shop with a latte in her hoof and a bag of churros in her satchel.  She looked around, distressed, for all the seats were occupied.  She spotted Ampere and quickly went over to his table.

"Oh, hey!  You're that guy from this morning."

Ampere looked up at her.

"I'm sorry to bother you again, but is this seat taken?"

Ampere stared at her for a short while.  "No."

She took a seat but once she did she looked left and right, still apprehensive.  Ampere then remembered that she had dropped her bracelet back in the park.  He reached in his shirt pocket and held it out to her.

"I believe this is yours."

"Oh!  Thank you!  I can't believe you'd give this back to me...  You've been so helpful to me but I really haven't done anything for you.  Your mother must be proud.”

Ampere sunk his head a tad low.  Volta took quick notice.

"Oh... I'm sorry."

"It's nothing."

Volta looked around left and right.  Ampere said, "You still look worried."

"Oh it's... it's nothing."

"You can tell me.  I know that look on your face.  You've lost someone."

"How did..."

"That's not important right now."

"But why would you help me?"

Ampere turned his head to the left, then back front.  "I'm just passing by."

"I see.  Well, whatever reason you have I'm fine with it.  I'm glad to be getting help anyway."

"Description."

"Wha- oh, you work fast."  Ampere's patience was being tested and he scowled.  Volta saw this and hastened her reply. "Oh, well, he's just a foal.  Only ten I think - but his biggest physical feature is that he's got an 'x'-marked scar on his left cheek."

Ampere's eyes widened.  Realization had come to him.

"He was wearing this black hoodie-”

“I don’t need any more information.”

“But - are you sure?”

Disregarding the question due to his impatience, Ampere replied, “I can’t guarantee that I’ll find him but I’ll try.  Meet me back at the park at 6:00 P.M.  I’ll tell you if I found him or not at that time.”

“Thank you.”

Ampere scowled, “I don’t need it.”

“I understand that you’re helping me, but if this is a trivial task to you then I can do this myself.”  Ampere’s harsh personality was now coming into contact with Volta’s generosity.

Pinned, Ampere replied, “Like I said, I’m just passing by.”

Volta smiled a little, “It’s okay.  I know a guy like you would have the heart to help me.”  She was satisfied in her little victory against Ampere’s brusqueness.

Stubborn to have the last say, Ampere got up and said, “I’ll be leaving now” as he left.

“Wait!  What about your cookie?”

Ampere stopped and looked back at the table.

“Keep it.”