The Visitor

Fancy Pants made his way down the road toward Professor Safon’s home as the early summer sun shined on Canterlot. It’s been two weeks since he’s seen him last and just this morning he has been informed that the Professor was back in the city by Jet Set complaining about loud music coming from the house. As he approached the steps of the house he started to hear the music that Jet Set was complaining about sounding like some of the ragtime music he recently took a liking too.

He walked up to the front door and took a hoof to it knocking repeatedly,“Professor, Professor old chap are you in there?”

After a few moments of knocking the music stopped and he heard some rustling in the house. Then the door opened and Fancy Pants was treated to the sight of Professor Safon looking disheveled with his hair completely out of place and noticeable stubble on his face.

Looking down Safon noticed Fancy Pants, “Fancy Pants!! How’ve you been?” he said in a slightly scattered manner.

Slightly confused at Safon Fancy Pants composed himself, “Oh. Just fine.”

“Well...” Safon said in the same absent-minded tone. “Would you like to come in for a bit?” He said gesturing the inside of his house.

“Uh sure. I might as well.” Fancy Pants responded now getting concerned for his friend’s health.

They walked in the house and went to the living room to the left of the entry hall. There Fancy Pants looked around noticing how even more deserved it looked compared to how it looked the last time he was there. There were still stacks of books with plates on them, the phonograph was on the coffee table with multiple records and used needle surrounding it, there were various papers with equations and diagrams throughout the living room pinned to the walls and on the floor and all of it seemed to have a thin layer of dust on it.

“How long have you been back?” Fancy Pants asked as he took a hoof to the table the phonograph sat on and looking at the dust his hoof collected.

Safon chuckled nervously a bit. “Yeah… funny story I’ve been back for about two weeks now.”

Fancy Pants got a look of shock across his face. “What!! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Still chuckling Safon walked over to the door towards the back of the house where the dining room and kitchen were. “Here follow me to dining room. I was intending to get back to you after I had a talk with Celestia but something came up.”

Fancy Pants followed Safon to the dining room turned lab. In there the room was cleared out with the table gone and the chairs against the back wall a small chair and table with a few books papers, and ashtray, and a desk lamp on it. There were also chalk circles in the center of the room to mark room for something with a ladder in the center of the circles. The windows were blocked out by the curtains to prevent outside light from coming in and to prevent nosy ponies from interrupting his work, there was a black board to the side with a bunch of equations and a diagram of a carriage on it and as he looked up Fancy Pants noticed a sparking wire coming down from the other exposed wiring on the ceiling.

“What’s with that wire over there?” Fancy Pants asked pointing a hoof to the wire.

“Heh well you see, remember when I was complaining about the electric work?”

“Yes I believe so.”

Chuckling Safon turned the small chair by the table around and sat in it. “Well you see I tried to fix it the morning after I got back from my talk with Celestia. I got up on the ladder I ‘procured’ from Jet Set and tried to run a wire down. So that way I don’t have to stand on a chair every time I want to turn on my desk lamp. When I started to pick a wire to run down I found out the hard way that one of the wires wasn’t properly covered and when I touched it I got electrocuted. It knocked me out and I just woke up last night.”

“What!!! Are you ok?!?” Fancy Pants asked in a panicked concern for Safon’s health.

“Yeah I’m fine. Trust me I’ve done worse to my self.” Safon said shrugging it off. “There was this one time I blacked out for a year and woke up half a state over and with a degree.” He continued chuckling at his own past.

“Alright then if you believe you don’t require medical assistance then I’ll oblige.” Fancy Pants said not too sure about Safon’s health and deciding to keep an eye out just incase.

Still chuckling Safon lit a cigarette he took out and took a hit. “Yeah… I’m used to having my doctor brother on hand to make sure something like that doesn’t happen.” He took another hit from the cigarette and placed it in the ashtray on the table behind him. “Oh.. I just realized I never asked what you’re here for.”

Finally remembering what he came for Fancy Pants cleared his throat, “Yes well I arrived here mostly to check up on you and for something else.” He reached in the breast pocket of his morning jacket and pulled out a card with ornate gold leafing on it.

“ I wanted to see you would be interested to attend my yearly garden party tomorrow night. It’s a little get together I hold in the Canterlot Castle gardens every year and I always invite some of the most important and brightest ponies in the world. Who knows you may meet someone to assist you.”

Safon took the invitation out of Fancy Pants’ hoof and looked at it. “When you say the brightest ponies who do you mean?”

“Well this year I’ve invited diplomats from other countries…”

“And how does that help me? Diplomats aren’t known for their intellect,” Safon rudely cutting him off.

Fancy Pants cleared his throat again. “Yes well I was getting to that. One of the diplomats is the diplomat from the Griffin Empire and right now an inventor from there is staying in their embassy while on visit to the Canterlot University. I was thinking that since nopony in Equestria can help you somepony from somewhere else could help you so I invited him along with the diplomat.”

Safon’s eyes perked up at this information “Well then now you have my interest. I’ll attend.” He put the invitation in his vest pocket. “Now is there a dress code for this party or do I just show up?”

“Why yes there is a dress code. It’s white tie formal attire. I know that you don’t have anything to wear but Miss Rarity is already going to attend so I requested that she come early tomorrow to make you a more formal outfit.”

Safon got up out of his chair and lead Fancy Pants to the entrance hall. “Well thank you Fancy Pants I’ll be ready for her when she gets here.”

Fancy Pants put his top hat on and headed for the door. “Your welcome and I’ll see you at the party.” He then left Safon’s home thinking about his partner’s health.

Rarity trotted her way up the street Safon’s house with a large bag of material levitating and her sewing machine next to her. As she walked she looked at the neighborhood as she walked not expecting such a foul-mouthed ruffian to live here. The neighborhood was a rather well off one home to bankers lawyers and the like. The street itself was equally nice with it’s brick laid road for carriages, clean sidewalks for ponies to walk on safe from possible speeding carriages.

The streetlights were electric running underground wires from a grand project to give electricity to Canterlot a few years back and some of the homes on this street are said to actually be getting telephones installed soon. Wearing her saddlebag with her measuring tape, pins, needles, thread, finally a blank sketchpad with a pencil inside it to write down measurements and sketch the design.

As she approached the house Fancy Pants said Safon was staying at she started to hear faint music from a phonograph and when she got to the front steps she saw Jet Set banging his hoof against the door and yelling.

“Open this door you inconsiderate ruffian or I’ll summon the police again!!!” Jet Set demanded as he banged at the door harder and harder. Rarity walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

“What!?!?” He yelled as he turned around and saw Rarity standing there with a questioned look on her face. He took a hoof to his mane to straighten it and started to speak in a condescending tone. “Oh it’s you, I didn’t expect to see you in Canterlot again. Got tired of little Ponyville and wanted to see the big city again?”

Rarity sighed remembering the last time she had to deal with him. “Oh no I’m here to see the good Professor as a personal favor to Fancy Pants.” She said emphasizing the “personal favor” part.

“Humph well if he ever comes out tell him to shut off that distasteful music.” With that Jet Set made his way past Rarity and went back into his own house.

When he was gone Rarity heard a voice come from behind the door. “Is he finally gone?”

“Yes I believe so.” At that news Rarity heard the locks on the door be undone and the door to be opened and she was greeted to the sight of Professor Safon and to her horror his outfit. His outfit consisted of tan border tartan pants with a black leather belt and suspenders holding them up, a light blue paisley shirt with the top two buttons and gauntlet buttons undone, his usual black leather dress shoes and tan corduroy vest left unbuttoned.

“Oh, oh my. I can see why you needed my help… this attire of yours will never work at the party. Patterns like those clash you're wearing a mess of fashion nightmares, I must make you a proper formal suit. A well fitting plain suit with a white tie and black trim should do.”

“What?” Safon asked dismissively as he gestured Rarity in the house.

Rarity followed Safon in the house and put her materials down while staring at him in horror. “Your outfit is simply dreadful professor, the patterns clash and don't get me started on the color. A nice black plain suit with white trim as im sure you wouldn’t be able to keep a white one clean.”

“Oh that. Well I’m kinda going with what I had in that suitcase I bought which I really haven’t gone through since… 199...3 I think.” He said scratching his chin in thought hesitating on the year.

“Well now it will be a slight challenge to get your suit fitted to you properly but I enjoy a good challenge.” Taking and starting to write his measurements down on her notebook as well as a basic sketch of a suit to cover Safon’s unusual build.

As Rarity took notes Safon went into the living room and put another record on the phonograph and a rather gruff voice started singing a song.

“Sorry if you don’t like it but I like annoying Jet Set or whatever his name is.” Safon said with a smirk.

Rarity looked over at him while still working on her design, “Oh I don’t mind anything to get under his skin.”

“Oh you have a history with him I guess.”

Rarity put her pencil down and looked at Safon with slight anger in her, “Let’s just say he is nothing but a weasel that tries to seem important by being around actually important ponies.”

Safon chucked, “Yeah I caught on to that. At first he was excited that a personal scientist for Fancy Pants was going to live next to him but when he found out it was me he has been dismissive at me and complaining about my music even though I’ve heard him playing Joplin in his house.”

“I’m amazed that he hasn’t gotten the police to take care of you.”

Safon started laughing, “Yeah funny story behind that. It turns out there’s no law in Equestria against having loud music playing on a phonograph. It’s only for live performances.”

Rarity chuckled at the story, “Well anyways do you have anywhere for me to work on your formal wear?”

Safon walked over the hat rack next to the door and put on the fedora and brown leather driving coat that were on it, “Yes I’ve cleared out the dining room for you to work in while I go and get a razor and pomade. I’ve also left my gray suit in there for you to look at if you get lost.”

“Thank you I’ll get to work immediately.” Rarity then picked up her material and went back to the dining room to work.

About a couple hours later Safon returned from the market and entered his house taking off his hat and coat and putting them on the hat rack as he entered. “Miss Rarity I’m back. How far have you gotten so far?”

Rarity’s voice called out from the repurposed dining room, “I’m back here darling. Can you come back here please?”

Safon started making his way back to the room, “Sure let’s see what you got.”

He entered the room to find that Rarity had made an unfinished black vest and white dress shirt on a makeshift human manikin. The dress shirt was neatly pressed and wrinkle free the vest already around it. There was also an unhemmed tailcoat and pants with white suspenders hanging over them and on a hanger hanging on the back of a chair out of her way as she used a portable sewing machine plugged in the light socket Safon ran down just above his working table.

“Almost done, Safon would you come and try this suit on for me so I can do the hems?”

“Sure” Safon said as he carefully put the tailcoat and moved as carefully to check the sizing. “It fits rather nice. I’m amazed that you were able to get it right.”

Rarity took a needle and thread in her aura and walked over to Safon and began sewing the hems on the sleeves, “Yes well thankfully your suit helped and your body structure is pretty close to a griffin’s. So I just called upon my experience tending to some of my griffin clients.” She said as she finished the sleeve she was working on and moving on to the next one.

Safon stood still as Rarity worked on the sleeve, “Oh yeah now that I remember. What can you tell me about some of these countries the ambassadors are coming from?”

“Well Twilight told me and Fancy Pants agreed that the Griffin Empire is the one you’ll be interested in. They are a more technological country, home to many of the world’s top non-magical scientists and perhaps the most technologically advanced military in the world. Then there is Prance, they’re similar to Equestria but a little more high class.” Rarity said as she finished the sleeve and Safon took off the coat and put it back on the hanger.

“Then,” Rarity said as she worked on the tail hems. “ There’s both the Ottomare Empire and the Changeling kingdom. They’re both a little hectic right now with rebellions building up in them.”

“I see,” Safon said as he lit a cigarette and took a hit. “How long will it take to finish the shirt and pants?”

Rarity took a look at the pants and shirt and thought for a second, “Well really all I need to do is sew on the left sleeve on the shirt and hem the pants. So I would say about half an hour to an hour.”

Safon took another hit and rubbed the stubble on his face, “Alright, what time is it?” He asked himself as he checked his wristwatch, “Ok 2:36 and the party starts at 6 so plenty of time. I’m going to go into the kitchen and shave and warm up the tin of pomade I got while you finish up.”

“That sounds like a good plan. Now,” Rarity began as she took the shirt with her magic to the sewing machine. “Please don’t disturb me while I do this.”

Safon nodded and went back to his coat to get the pomade, shaving soap, a strop, a brush and straight razor he bought. Thanking his luck that there were enough breeds of dragons that grew hair to justify having shaving equipment he could use in a dragon specialty shop. He made his way back through the dining room and to the door to the kitchen to the right side. Once in the kitchen he took out a cup from a cupboard and put the puck of shaving soap and brush in it and set it on the counter next to the sink. He then rolled up his sleeves attached the strop to the oven handle and turned the hot water on in the sink and let it warm up. After the water started steaming he took the cup and put it under the running water filling it up. Setting the mug down, wetting his own face and turning off the water he took the razor the stromp and stropped it until it was sharp enough. With the razor sharp enough he dumped the water out of the cup and took the brush and turning it in circles built up a creamy lather out of the soap. With a creamy lather he took the brush to his face being sure all of the stubble was covered. Finally he took turned to a mirror he already had in the room he took the razor and carefully started shaving off the stubble in one go then re lathering and repeating again. After he felt his face was clean-shaven enough he turned the cold water on and cleaned his face of with a kitchen towel and headed back into the dining room.

“Miss Rarity are the pants ready at least?” Safon asked as he stepped back into the room.

Rarity looked over at the pants from her sewing machine, “Yes they are ready for you and the shirt should be done in a little bit.”

“Ok I’m going to put them on and get my hair ready.” He said as he picked them up and took them back with him to the kitchen.

He then lit a stove burner and put the tin of pomade on it. As it sat on the burner and melted to usefulness Safon took off his shirt and vest leaving his undershirt and swapped his pants for the more formal ones. Next he turned on the water faucet and wet his hair and combed it with the comb he had in his vest. Looking over at the tin on the burner and deciding it was soft enough, he turned the burner off and scooped up some pomade into his comb and combed into his hair styling it into a more formal version of his usual side part. As he made sure his hair was alright in the mirror he heard Rarity’s voice come from the other room.

“Professor dear the shirt is finally done.” she called out.

Safon came back to the room to find the shirt nice and ready on a hanger next to her, “ Great. This is perfect,” He turned to Rarity, “Thank you for the help,” He then thought for a second, “oh now that I’m thinking about it I want to say I’m sorry about the way I’ve acted towards you and your friends when I woke up.”

Taken aback by the apology Rarity cleared her throat, “ I accept your apology and would like to apologize for having rather harsh opinions about you.”

“Harsh opinions?” Safon asked.

Blushing a bit Rarity looked at the floor, “Yes well you see when you had to fix your craft and started yelling and saying words no proper gentlecolt would say. I started to think you were nothing but a ruffian but now that I’ve calmed down a bit and spent more time with you when you’re not stressed. I’ve come to understand that perhaps you didn’t intend on being rude upon our initial meeting.”

Safon smirked a bit, “Yeah I probably was a bit insufferable then. I normally don’t act like that unless I’m around someone I don’t like.”

Smirking again he gestured toward the side of the house Jet Set’s house was neighboring, “Take Jet over there for example. When I first moved in here he tried to ask me all kinds of questions about my partnership with Fancy Pants and if I could use a lawyer. I caught on the fact that he was trying to get in my good favor so I would put in a good word to Fancy Pants about him I called him out on it. He then got mad that such an ‘uncivilized ruffian’ would assume such a thing of a ‘well respected lawyer’. So I’ve been annoying him with loud ‘ruffian music’ since. Really he’s lucky I don’t have access to my ships stereo system, otherwise I’d blast some AC/DC on his ass.” Safon said laughing at the thought.

Rarity started laughing with him at the thought of even louder music being blasted at Jet Set, “Well I would certainly like to see that. Anyone who can get under that stallions skin in a friend in my book.” She then looked at the clock in the room reading 3:23, “We better get ready. I’m finished here so I’ll go back to my hotel room and get dressed and I’ll meet you at garden entrance.”

Looking at the tailcoat and shirt Safon nodded as Rarity packed her things, “Sounds like a plan meet you there.”

“Where is he?” Rarity asked herself as she stood by the entrance to the party. “He said he would meet me here before the party started,” She looked at her pocket watch to see it read 6:12, “He needs to hurry up.”

“Excuse me miss but do you have an invitation?” A voice behind her asked.

“hmm?” Rarity asked before she turned around to see the unicorn gatekeeper asking her. “Oh yes I do I’m just waiting for someone else to arrive.”

“You don’t suppose they’ve already arrived do you? I’ve let in so many ponies he could have came in.”

Chuckling Rarity responded, “Trust me dear you would know if he arrived yet.”

The gatekeeper looked back over to his post and back to Rarity. “Alright Miss, just have your invitation ready for when he does …..”

“Rarity!! I’m here!!” a voice called out. The gatekeeper and Rarity looked to see Professor Safon running towards them holding a brass tipped cane with a lacquered maple stick. “Sorry I’m late.” He said when he reached them out of breath.

“What took you so long?” Rarity asked.

Catching his breath Safon stood up, “Sorry I thought it would be nice to bring my old cane with me.”

“It’s alright. Now I do believe this fine gentlecolt here would like our invitations.” She said gesturing the gatekeeper who was in shock at Safon.

“Yes..um do you have an invite sir?” The gatekeeper said as he snapped back to attention.

Safon took out his invite from his coat pocket. “Yes I do.”

“As do I.” Rarity said as she levitated her invite to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper looked at their inventions before passing them back. “Thank you and enjoy the party.” He then opened the gate with his magic.

Rarity and Safon nodded to the gatekeeper and headed into the party. As they walked in Safon looked around at the party. The whole garden was lit up like a Christmas tree with electric lights everywhere.

All the ponies were dressed in their best clothing with stallions wearing fine black tailcoats with white dress shirts with matching vests and bow ties and traditional hairstyles, while the mares were dressed in fine ball gowns of varying designs and hairstyles. There were also many servants male and female going around to guests dressed in less formal closed tailcoats and regular black neckties carrying trays of food, wines and tobacco. All this had the sound of a player piano playing in the background playing a ragtime piece that sounded awfully familiar to Professor Safon causing him to think about the odds of it being a song he knew.

“Professor old chap you’ve arrived!” Fancy Pants’ voice said knocking Safon out of his thought.

“Fancy Pants there you are! Thanks for inviting me here!” Safon said turning to the approaching Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis both also dressed their finest with Fancy Pants in a similar tailcoat style to the other stallions but he had some military rank insignias in his lapel and Fleur De Lis was in a French style cream ball gown.

Fancy Pants chuckled a bit, “You’re welcome and I must say Rarity did a wonderful job on you attire here.” He said as he gestured Safon’s attire a black tailcoat with peaked lapels, matching pants, a satin vest, white pleated dress shirt with a wingtip collar and white silk bowtie.

“Thank you. I think she did a great job too.” Safon said looking a Rarity.

Rarity blushed at the attention, “Well the suit the good professor provided helped speed the process up.”

Fleur spoke up, “You’ve done a wonderful job on your gown as well Rarity.” She said pointing out Rarity’s own gown that was simply the same maroon one she wore to last years grand galloping gala.

Rarity was still blushing, “Oh this thing. It’s just the gown I used at last years Grand Galloping Gala. I would’ve made a new one for this event, but I’ve been so busy lately with mares getting an interest in non-corseted dresses I couldn’t take the time to make one.”

“I remember hearing about that trend lately.” Fancy Pants said before turning to Safon, “Professor do you have a moment I have a couple ponies that would like to meet you.”

“Yeah I can do that.” Safon said as Fancy Pants started walking in a direction for Safon to follow. He followed Fancy Pants until the got to a table out of the way of other ponies where two stallions one an earth pony and the other a unicorn were waiting for them. “Professor I would like for you to meet General Four Star the General of the Equestrian army and General Shining Armor.” Fancy Pants said as he announced the two generals who got up to greet the professor.

The earth pony General Four Star was an older stallion probably pushing 60 with his hair already grayed from age with a well trimmed mustache and dressed in an older more ornate rich dark blue uniform with many medals across his chest reminding Safon of his old uniform in the civil war, and a cutie mark consisting of four gold stars. Shining Armor on the other hand looked about half Four Star’s age with hair consisting of streaks of various shades of blue, clean shaven and dressed in a more modern looking olive drab uniform reminiscent of Safon’s last service uniform in 1953, a shield as his cutie mark and a smoking pipe in his mouth.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you Professor Henry.” Four Star said as he extended a hoof to Safon.

“General.” Safon said as he shook Four Star’s hoof.

Shining Armor gestured the chairs at the table, “Could you please take a seat Professor we have much to talk about.”

Safon took one of the chairs and sat down with the two Generals. While this happened Fancy Pants looked over towards his other guests, “I suppose I should return to my other guests then. Do feel free to call for me if anything is needed.”

Shining Armor nodded before taking one last smoke from his pipe and emptying it in the dirt behind him, “ Thank you we’ll be sure to call if we need you Lieutenant.”

“Yes General.” Fancy Pants said before leaving the three alone.

“Lieutenant huh.” Safon said as he watched Fancy Pants leave before turning back to the two Generals, “I figured that painting in his office was his father.”

“He didn’t tell you?” Shining Armor asked as he put more tobacco in his pipe, “That stallion is the Hero of the Battle of La Frontière twenty years ago.”

“He never really mentioned that.” Safon noted as he took out a cigarette.

Four Star nodded, “He hasn't mentioned it much for a while. These days he prefers to be modest,”

“Perhaps he wanted to move on,” Safon said as he lit the cigarette and took a hit.

Four Star smirked, “I suppose so. Not everypony wants to be in the military for their entire life. Ain’t that right General Safon.”

Safon chuckled at Four Star’s knowledge of his past, “Stonewall told you right?”

“Yes he did.” Shining Armor stated as he lit his pipe with his magic, “And Princess Celestia told us about your little “visit” a couple weeks ago.”

Four Star got a very stern look on his face as he looked at Safon, “ Listen while the Princess has told us to not act I want to make one thing clear. IF you fuck with the princesses in any way I WILL unleash the full wrath of the Equestrian military on your ASS. DO I MAKE MY SELF CLEAR?!?!”

Safon sat calmly in his chair as he responded, “Yes you do, and I want to ensure you I have no interest in causing harm to them in any way. I just did that to clear the air and ensure I’m allowed to proceed with my work uninterrupted by your country in fear that I’m going to destroy it.”

Shining Armor took a hit from his pipe, “That’s what the Princess told us. We just wanted to be clear that we wouldn’t go down without a fight.”

Four Star cleared his throat, “Yes but that isn’t the only reason we’ve wanted to speak with you. Princess Celestia also told us that you offered you assistance with any problems she had and we’re here to verify what you mean.”

Safon took another hit from his cigarette and set it in the ashtray on the table, “Ah, I was planning on elaborating on that earlier but I knocked myself out for two weeks.”

Four Star and Shining Armor gave a puzzled look at that statement, “Anyways it was an offer to help show my non hostile intentions. While I’m no longer fit for more active service like the two of you. I am fully capable of being an adviser for minor things like advise on what technology to focus on to major military strategy advice, or I can do some more white collar military service like espionage.”

Four Star chuckled, “Ah I see. Is that why you told lieutenant Fancy Pants that he can sell those zeppelin things to us to use?”

“Yes! You see they can be used to transport large amounts of troops, supplies and anything else that’s needed.” Safon said.

“You don’t say.” Shining Armor said scratching his chin.

“You think we can do something with that General Armor?” Four Star asked Shining Armor.

“Yes sir I do think we can,” Shinning Armor responded to his superior before turning to Safon, “Can you send us a diagram to have research and development to look at and give us a report.”

“You would have to ask Fancy Pants for it. I only made one and gave it to him to copy.” Safon said happy he’s getting somewhere with this.

“Great,” Shining Armor said happily to Safon before turning back to Four Star, “Sir this might give us a technological edge over the Griffins if they actually use that army they got ready.”

“You might be right, but let’s let the research and development look it over and get back to us.” Four Star said.

“Army they got ready?” Safon asked.

Shining Armor cleared his throat, “ I forget you’re new to this world. You see both Prance and the Griffin Empire have been at each other’s throats for over a century. The Griffin Empire attempted to take land from Prance a century ago and Prance quickly took it back. Now while there have only been small skirmishes here and there scene then. They are both just waiting for the excuse to end this hostility with one of them coming out the victor. They've been building armies, making allies, and developing new magic and weapons. ”

“And while we’re neutral,” Four Star began to add, “ Both sides want us as an ally incase it happens. We have close historical ties with Prance and the Griffin Empire have repeatedly attempted to make an agreement with them but Princess Celestia has instituted a policy of isolationism for such matters.”

“The most we’ve contributed was allow soldiers to enlist in either armies voluntarily fifteen years ago.” Shining Armor added.

“That sounds troublesome.” Safon stated.

“It was.” Four Star said sighing at the memory, “We stopped that after both sides tried to use that as an excuse in their constant meetings to get us to join,”

“I’d imagine,” Safon said as he looked around, “ Do you two have anything else to talk to me about or am I free to go?”

“I can’t think of anything else can you sir?” Shining Armor asked Four Star.

“No that was all that was needed of you General,” Four Star said making sure Safon heard “General”.

“Alright then,” Safon said calmly as he got out of his chair, “I want to thank you two for this conversation, it was very informative, and I’ll be sure to keep in contact with you two if I require military assistance in my endeavors,”

“Your welcome and we’ll be sure to contact you if we need any assistance,” Four Star said getting up and shaking Safon’s hand.

Safon left and Shinning Armor leaned over to Four Star, “Do you think he’s a threat sir?”

“No I don’t think so, but be sure to keep an eye on him,” Four Star stated sternly.

Safon sat at a table alone watching the piano player as he started playing a new song surprised that Fancy Pants went ahead and got a ragtime piano player for his party. He chuckled at the thought of Jet Set having a heart attack that one of Fancy Pants’ status would have such ruffian music playing at such an event.

“That’s Pianola the famed ragtime piano player,” A Russian sounding voice chimed in behind Safon.

“I See,” Safon said as he turned to the source of the voice and saw a bug like equine dressed in fine white tie formal wear with a black and gold coat of arms pin in his lapel and an ambassador sash under his coat, “ You must be a changeling, I was told I would meet one here.” Safon stated gesturing the new arrival.

“Yes I am. I must say for one new to this world you’re quite knowledgeable,” The Changeling responded.

“I’ve encountered changelings before in my travels in the multiversity.” Safon stated.

“I’d imagine. Someone like you must’ve seen many sights in their life.” The Changeling said as he took a seat.

Safon chuckled, “You got that one right, As you may already know I’m Professor Henry A Safon the Second, and you are?” He asked as he extended his hand to the Changeling.

“Aw how rude of me,” The Changeling said as he shook Safon’s hand, “I’m Posol the representative from the Changeling Empire.”

“It’s nice to meet you Posol,” Safon responded, “I assume you’re here for more than pleasant conversation though.”

Posol laughed, “Sharp as a tack you are. Yes I am here for something. You see my country is beginning a rather slow process of modernizing to keep up with the other countries, and I’m here to invite you to help us speed the process up. We have a considerable amount in the budget for any personal experiments you have and an unlimited budget for projects towards advancement of the country. You will also live in the lap of luxury in the Queen’s Palace during you stay.”

“Isn’t there a rebellion building up in you country?” Safon asked.

“It’s just a small protest group,” Posol quickly added, “ They are of no consequence anyways.”

“Ok then,” Safon said unsure of Posol and how this sounded something like what George Badhmeteff would say, “Am I the only one who you’re recruiting or do you have others lined up.”

“No you not,” Posol stated, “We’ve already had many inventors agree including one from the technologically advanced Griffin Empire.”

“I see,” Safon said as he scratched his chin, “ I’m sorry to say this but I can’t take you up on this offer.”

“Are you sure Professor? This is such a generous offer,” Posol said in slight panic.

“I’m quite sure Posol. Now I should go and get back to Fancy Pants,” Safon stated as he got up.

“I understand,” Pool said as he got up too, “I just ask that you think about it at least. The offer is always open.”

“Thank you I’ll be sure to think it over,” Safon said as he shook Pool’s hoof and left Posol alone for another Changeling to approach him.

“Did he accept sir?” The other Changeling asked.

Posol looked towards Safon, “No he didn’t.”

“Should I get the negotiators ready sir?”

“No give him a chance to think about it, but do keep an eye on him.”

“Yes sir.”

As Safon walked around trying to find the griffin ambassador to no luck. As he walks by the kitchen he heard some rustling in the kitchen and then some pots and pans fall. He looked around saw a small unicorn filly run out of the kitchen followed shortly by a disheveled Blueblood.

“You get back here!!!” Blueblood yelled as he gave chase. Safon soon decided to follow the pair. Eventually they got to a corner with Blueblood slowly approaching the young filly. “Finaly got you, you little rat.”

“What in the hell is going on here?” Safon asked causing Blueblood to jump and turn around and jump again at the sight of Safon.

“Oh it’s you.” Blueblood said in anger. “If you must know I found this little rat trying to sneak food.”

“Oh this rat?” Safon said gesturing the young filly. The filly was a small malnourished unicorn with a dirty cream coat and burgundy mane dressed in a torn band collar button up shirt a patchy brown vest and matching wool newsboy cap.

“Look at her she looks like she hasn’t eaten in weeks.” He turned his attention to her. “What’s your name?”

The filly looked very nervous at the attention she was getting, “T-tt-trinity sir.”

Safon walked past Blueblood and extended a hand to Trinity, “Nice to meet you Trinity I’m Professor Henry A Safon the Second.”

Trinity nervously put a hoof in Safon’s hand, “Uh N-n-nice to meet you too.”

“Come on we’ll get you something to eat.” Safon said leading her to a table.

Blueblood got angry at this, “You can’t possibly be thinking of giving this rat food meant for her betters.”

Safon looked back at Blueblood, “Blueblood. Shut the fuck up or I’ll give you another black eye.”

Blueblood immediately backed up at his threat, “Fine have fun with the rat.” Blueblood then slicked back his mane and left the two alone.

Fancy Pants walked past the angry Blueblood and approached the two, “What happened here and who’s this?”

“Fancy Pants.” Safon said standing back up. “This is Trinity, I found the poor girl being accosted by Blueblood.”

“I see,” Fancy Pants said to Safon before turning his attention to Trinity, “ Where are your parents young filly? Do they know you’re here?”

Trinity looked up to Fancy Pants, “No sir, I have no parents,” She said with sadness in her voice.

“Oh dear,” Fancy Pants said to himself, “Well do you have a home we can take you to?” He asked her knowing what she’ll likely say.

“No sir I don’t. That why I was trying to get some food here. I heard they had really good food here and I wanted to see if I could get just a little.” She responded with tears starting to build up.

“Oh my,” Fancy Pants said before turning to Safon, “Do you have any ideas to do here?”

“Hmm…” Safon said scratching his chin in thought, “ Well remember our conversation yesterday? The one where I mentioned I knocked myself out?”

“Yes I do, but what has that go to do with this?” Fancy Pants asked not knowing where he was going with this.

“Well you see that got me thinking. When I normally do things I have someone on hand to make sure I don’t accidentally kill my self.”

Fancy Pants caught on to where Safon was going with this, “ I think that’s a great idea!”

Safon turned his attention to Trinity, “ Trinity I have a deal for you. I will give you a house to live in and food to eat and all you need to do is be my assistant in my science experiments”

Trinity looked unsure, “ Uh are you sure I don’t know much about science.”

Safon chuckled, “Don’t worry about that I just need you to make sure I don’t hurt myself.”

“That’s all?” Trinity asked nervously.

“Yes it is. So what do you say?”

“I guess---I’ll do it.” Trinity said still a little nervous.

“Great!” Safon said before turning his attention to Fancy Pants, “Oh Fancy Pants in all this excitement I forgot to ask. Where’s the Ambassador from the Griffin Empire?”

“Well you see,” Fancy Pants started nervously, “I just got word she couldn’t make it, I’ve been trying to find you since I got word.”

“Fuck,” Safon said under his breath, “Well that sucks.”

“Yes unfortunate,” Fancy Pants said as he reached in his vest pocket and pulled out his pocket watch to see the time read 8:55, “Oh dear It’s going to be dark soon.” He said before looking at Safon, “Come on Professor the entertainment should start soon and I’ve got a grand
surprise lined up this year.”

“Alright you go ahead I’ll meet you there.” Safon said. Fancy Pants nodded and headed for his table and Safon turned his attention back to Trinity, “ Let’s get you something to eat first okay?”

“Wait you were serious about being your assistant?” Trinity asked in shock.

“Yeah why wouldn’t I be?” Safon asked confused.

“I was thinking you were trying look good to the other pony.”

Safon laughed, “No I wasn’t, I do need somebody to help me and you need a home, so again what do you say?”

“You mean I’ll actually have a home?” She asked hopefully.

“You sure will now come on and we’ll get some food.” Safon said as he led her to the food table.

Safon, Fancy Pants, Fleur, Rarity and Trinity sat at their own private table as the lights turned off and everyone focused on the stage that was set up for the entertainment. The curtains opened to reveal Flim and Flam dressed in black formal wear and the spotlight on them.

“The Flim Flam brothers. What are they doing here?” Rarity whispered to Fancy Pants.

“Oh don’t worry Rarity their here to provide some very unique entertainment.” Fancy Pants responded.

“Fillies and Gentelcolts!!!” Flim announced.

“We’re pleased to bring you tonight’s entertainment!!” Flam added.

“We have the most magical!!” Flim chimed in

“Sensational!!!”

“Technological!!!”

“Never before seen show ever!!!” Flam finished.

They both used their magic and brought out a white curtain behind them and a stand with a cover 50 feet in front of the stage where Flim moved next to.

“We’re Proud to bring you... Moving pictures!!” Flim announced as he removed the cover to reveal a movie projector on the stand.

Flam moved out of the way of the projectors way as he added his own words. “Watch them move before your very eyes. Be amazed at the wonder!!!”

Flim switched on the projector and it came to life and began to project on the screen a bunch of ponies waiting at a train station. Suddenly a train started to arrive and get closer to the screen. The train was getting closer and closer until it looked like it was about to hit the camera. Everyone but Safon and the Flim Flam brothers gasped at it until the train came to a stop and ponies got on. The film ended and spotlight shined on Flim and Flam on the stage.

“What did we tell you everypony!!!” Flim started.

“Wasn’t that a sight you’ve never seen before!!!” Flam added

Soon everypony clapped their hooves and cheered.

“Thank You, Thank You!!!” Flim said.

Fancy Pants Laugh as he continued clapping. “What did I tell you Professor. Wasn’t that unique entertainment?”

Safon Sat in his chair looking at the projector, “I’ll say.” He said before turning to Trinity going through a rather large plate of food. “Trinity you and I have a little meeting to have before we go home.”

After the party was over Safon and Trinity went to the stage where Flim and Flam were packing their equipment. “Excuse me Flim Flam??” Safon said getting their attention.

Flim and Flam turned their attention to Safon and Trinity, “Oh it’s the good Professor. To what do we owe the pleasure?” Flim asked.

Safon started, “Well you see I’m fascinated with your little machine here and I wanted to know if you could let me have one or a diagram to use in my experiments.”

“Use in your experiments eh?” Flam started, “What do you think Flim should we let him?”

“I don’t know brother perhaps if he agreed to pay us for the right to use it every month.” Flim added.

Safon looked at the two, “You can’t be serious.”

Flam laughed, “Yes we can.”

“You see we have the exclusive right to this machine and it’s the only one of its kind.” Flim added.

“Okay this is going nowhere.” Safon said underhis breath. He turned to Trinity, “Alright Trinity we’re going home.”

“Ok--kay,” Trinity said as she started walking with Safon a new and hopefully better chapter in her life.