Being Brave part II

Twilight woke up realizing she was in her human form once more. With her flailing skirt and bow tied t-shirt, one could almost say she'd pass for Dorothy. Noticing she still had her wings, she quickly folded them up and tucked them in the back of her shirt.

"Alright girl." she said to herself. "You did this before, you can do it again."

As she adjusted to walking on two legs and using hands again, she realized that the portal ended up on the wall of an old, wooden shack. She noticed how the other walls were covered with glorious paintings and musical arrangements. Looking up, she saw a few chains of paper dolls and cranes still dangling from the ceiling. Looking down, she examined a few discarded board games and art books, all had not been opened or touched in 2 years. in the middle of the floor was a medium sized rug quilted with the image of a six pointed star. The center of the shape was embedded with the words: "Friends For Life" with big letters in front of each word. Twilight shed a little tear at the site of this, to which she promptly wiped away.

"Ok," she continued. "You got just enough bits to get to and from wherever his parents are. But first, Find a library. Remember, you're doing this for Cory."

Then with a large, yet clumsy stride, she walked out of the shack, and onto the street. It was particularly gloomy, yet mysterious afternoon in the human world. The sky was a medium dark grey as if a little shower was about to happen. The ground was a combination of small weeds and unkempt grass, with large patches of dirt everywhere.

As she approached the street, Twilight looked to her right and left, wondering where to go first. It was hard to make out the heavy fog at first, but with closer examination, she noticed a passerby walking toward her.

"Excuse me sir." She said as she caught his attention. "Do you know where I'm able to find a library?"

"There's one on the other side of town." The stranger replied as he pointed to her left. "Just keep going straight and you'll be at Canterlot County Library."

"Thanks." she said, and started to run in that direction.

"You know a bus ride would be easier."

"Bus - ride?" she replied with a confused look.

The stranger pointed to a bus parked at the edge of the street. Twilight made a small grin and walked over. She had never seen such a large mode of transportation before. It looked like a large beast with glowing eyes and wheels for legs. Knowing that was not important now, she stepped inside, paid her few bits to the bus driver and took a seat.

As the bus stopped at the library, she marched inside and started to search for books on town history. At the edge of one of the shelves, she noticed a messy folder of manuscripts and documents. On the cover read: St. George's Child Center Residence Record. With the assistance of the ladder, she climbed up and grabbed it with the greatest of ease. Then she curled into a fetal position and read away.

As she started to searched for Cory's name, there were images of a shanty, broken down orphanage, a poorly handled kitchen system, empty rooms with sleeping bags on the wooden floor and a wide array of children who looked like they'd been either bruised in the eye or kicked in the stomach.

"What kind of parents would leave a kid there?" She said to herself.

In middle of all the research was the front of a newspaper that read: ST. GEORGE'S CONFISCATED AND DEMOLISHED FOR CHILD CRUELTY. It was then she noticed the back of the folder that read: CRIME FILE.

"Good riddance." she mumbled.

Then she continued to skim through all the names until she finally reached the C's.

"Cody..Colleen.. Connie.. AHA! CORY!" she stated.

In front of her was a small picture a meek, ten year old boy. Not surprising was the fact that it was the only orphan with the letters missing in front of it. Attached to it was a large paper describing his appearance, hobbies and any family history. At the bottom of page read in bold letters RELATIONS: Suri and Frank Agees. This was what Twilight was looking for. She held the file record with her mouth and walked towards a librarian.

"Expcupf Meh MM." Twilight muffled.

"Can I...Help you?" The librarian asked with a puzzled look.

Realizing she was in a world different from hers, she spat out the piece of paper and made a sheepish grin.

"Do you know where I can find these two?" She asked as she pointed to the names of Cory's parents.

"Have you tried online?"

"I'm not really the best at that."

"If you want I can search them up for you."

"That would be great."

The librarian quickly logged onto her laptop and typed the names Paulina and Frank Agees. As she scrolled down, a vast array of articles appeared pertaining to a couple who bought a large insurance company down in Miami, telling how they claimed to become successful without children through. Each one also stated how they were notorious for their mean spirited and thoughtless behavior with their employees and clients. There was even a magazine cover that labeled them "The Nastiest Couple on Earth." After a few more searches, the librarian printed out their living address and gave it to Twilight.

"So where can I find this so called, Mi-am-ee?" Twilight asked.

"You're not really from here are you?" asked the librarian.

"Where I come from the town's kind of.... isolated." Twilight lied.

"Alright." sighed the librarian "There's a bus that should be stopping by now en route towards the airport. Maybe you'll catch a flight there."

"Flight? you mean like Pegasi flight?"

"Um...Pegasi?"

"Never mind. Thanks."

She picked up her satchel full of bits and ran outside. Just as expected, a bus was waiting for the next passenger. She hopped aboard, paid another few bits, and took a seat. As the bus made it's way to the airport, Twilight reached into her pocket and took a moment to memorize the address. It was at that moment she looked out the window and saw her five human friends walking by. She wanted to stick her head out and wave, but she knew this wasn't her focus now. Maybe some other time, She thought to herself.

"Next stop! Canterlot County Airport!" shouted the driver as the bus came to a stop.

Twilight stuffed the address in her pocket and stepped off. The airport was the most complex work of architecture she had ever seen. With every section more intricate than the next, she couldn't tell which part was the entrance and which was the exit. After a few minutes of frantic searching, she finally came across the information booth and noticed a vacant desk.

"Do you know when the next flight to Miami is?" She asked as she walked towards it.

"Well, there is one heading out at gate 30 about 30 minutes." Replied the employee. "But I'd hurry if I were you."

With those words, Twilight sprinted away, checking the signs if she got lost. After a few minutes of intense searching, she arrived in the nick of time.

"Attention." said a voice over the intercom "Flight D-J-P-O-N-3 to Miami is now boarding."

Twilight walked up to the service desk and chucked and handful of bits in front of the specialist.

"Will this cover for a flight?" She asked

The specialist nodded back with a strange look and gave her a ticket, to which she walked through the loading dock and into the plane. The interior looked like the inside of a serpents stomach. Twilight couldn't tell whether she was inside a vehicle or a creature as she took her seat. She held on tight like a cat clings onto the side of a couch as the plane started to take off.

"First time on a plane?" Asked a familiar stranger.

"Oh, yes." Twilight chuckled "And to think flying with wings was hard enough."

"Wings?" asked the stranger.

"Never mind." she replied.

The stranger took out a sketchpad of what looked like different costume designs and started drawing.

"So. Are heading to Miami for some fun and relaxation?" She asked

"Actually no. It's for more personal reasons." Replied Twilight

"Oh. Who are you to see?"

"I'm trying to get into contact with a couple named Frank and Suri Agees."

The stranger broke her pencil upon hearing this.

"Oh my goodness." The stranger said alarmingly. "If you're looking to get money there, that should be the last thing on your mind."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, a couple years back, I was short and desperate for insurance. I needed the money to help set up a small shop I always wanted to own. But unfortunately, they gave me a deadline of less than a week. So, I took the easy way out and became an employee for Agees Investments. Promising they'd give me the money I needed, I was told to do very humiliating things for them, such as come to work in sexist clothing, clean up every after party without any assistance, and being ridiculed by other staff for not being as good looking as everyone else. Finally, I mustered up the courage to ask them for my claim but they said I was not qualified for their coverage, stating I was... too ugly for their image. Basically, they scammed me out of what was a supposed to be an unbroken promise. Yet, I decided to continue working them, believing I'd eventually save enough money for the store.

"I began to believe it was everybody for themselves in this world. Then I came across a story online about a high school who miraculously turned a school upside down and united all the students regardless of what they like. It made me think, maybe there's something better for me. So, I quit."

"Then how did you get your money?" asked Twilight

"Well there's nothing a few close friends can't fix."

"You can say that again. By the way my names Twilight. Twilight Sparkle."

"I'm Coco. Coco Pommel."

The two continued talking on one subject and chuckling onto another until the plane made its landing at Miami airport.

"So, why exactly are you here?" Asked Coco as she got out of her seat.

"I'm here to talk to Suri and Frank about a child they abandoned." Replied Twilight.

"Gasp! Oh my goodness." Proclaimed Coco as they headed out the plane. "So the legends are true."

"Yep." Replied Twilight "And I got the evidence right here."

She reached into her satchel and took out Cory's file record.

"Poor guy." Said Coco as she looked at Cory's picture. "I wonder where he is now?"

"Fortunately, he's with me and one of my other friends."

"Oh. You're his new caregiver?"

"Well, depending on the circumstances, soon to be."

"So why do you wish to see his parents?"

"I just need to know why they abandoned Cory and see if they want him back or not."

As they headed out the loading dock and past the baggage claim, Twilight walked outside the terminal and wondered how she would get a cab.

"If you need a ride," Coco commented. "I can get one for you."

"Thanks." She replied.

With ease, Coco called for a taxi for which two hopped inside and headed for the house of the Agees.