The Visitor

A knock at the front door interrupted Safon’s chat with Trinity about speeding up work on getting him home.

Safon looked towards the front door. “Trinity can you get that?” He asked getting up from his chair and going to the parlor to retrieve his phonograph.

“Sure,” Trinity said as she went to the front door and opened it, to find General Four Star and a yellow pegasus mare dressed in a service uniform similar to Shining Armors but grayish blue with different symbols on the coat. “Hello Sir Mam are you here to see Professor Safon?” She asked unsure why two generals would want the Professor.

General Four Star took off his hat and said “Hello little filly I am General Four Star and this is General Spitfire. We were wondering if the Professor was home this morning?”

Trinity thought for a second about what Safon would want. “Uh yes he’s here. Can you give me a second?”

“Certainly.” Four Star answered politely.

Trinity closed the door and went back into the dining room/lab to find Safon putting the phonograph on a table next to his desk.

“Trinity. Do me a favor and remind me to order one of those new floor model phonographs from the mail order catalog.” Safon offhandedly told her before going back to the parlor to get his records.

“Uh Professor.” Trinity said, trying to get Safon’s attention...

“The thing’s a pain in the ass to pick up and carry. It would be easier to have a floor model with wheels to move around.” He continued as he came back in the room carrying his records.

“Professor the door.” She said louder still trying to get his attention.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, not really paying attention as he wound the phonograph for another record.“It wasn’t Jet Set was it?.... Wait no I didn’t hear yelling.”

“No it wasn’t him. It’s a couple generals from the military looking for you.” She explained

“Oh shit.” He said stopping in his tracks with the phonograph. “Did you let them in?”

She gulped a bit before she spoke in a slightly worried manner. “No they’re still outside.”

Safon started going through the papers he had on his desk. “Ok good. Let them in and wait in the parlor I’ll be out in a moment.”

“Yes sir.” Trinity said before heading back to the front door and opening it.

“The Professor asked me to take you to the parlor and he’ll see you soon.” She calmly told the two generals waiting outside before leading them in.

Four Star and Spitfire nodded. “Thank you Miss.” Spitfire said as she took her hat off also.

“Do you want me to take your hats?” Trinity asked as she guided the two into the parlor.

Four Star shook his head as he entered the parlor. “No that won’t be necessary, we don’t plan on being here long.”

Trinity nodded and stayed quiet to make sure she didn’t say anything to anger the two as they looked around the parlor.

The blackboard of photos caught Spitfire’s attention, especially the one with his craft in it. “Hm so that’s what his craft looked like before he crashed it.”

Four Star was also interested in the photos and the drawing in the center. “ It would appear so.” He said offhandedly before turning to Trinity. “Is this his machine in these photos?”

“That’s what he said, but I’m afraid I don’t know much about it yet.” Trinity replied nervously.

“I see.” Four Star said before Safon walked in from the lab.

Safon had a smile on his face as he greeted the two generals. “Hello General Four Star and….”

“General Spitfire of the Equestrian Royal Air Force.” Spitfire simply said.

“Alright, nice to meet you General.” Safon said before turning to Four Star. “I’m going to guess you two wanted to see me about something?”

Four Star cleared his throat. “Actually it was General Spitfire that wanted to see you. Shining Armor told her what you said about the airships, and she wanted to hear what you could tell her.”

“Thank you General.” Spitfire directed to Four Star before tuning to Safon. “ Yes Shining Armor told me you had applications for the airships we could use.”

Safon chucked. “Yes I do. Now depending on how close you guys are to the similar dimensions, your air force is composed of exclusively pegisi. Am I correct.”

Four Star’s eyebrows raised at what Safon said. “ What do you mean ‘similar dimensions’?”

Safon smirked. “I have been traveling through dimensions for 32 years now. In that time I have been to over one thousand dimensions, some similar to others. 17 years ago me and my future wife went on a tour of dimensions, the first one we found was one dominated by equines with culture and technology similar to this. One of those technologies were airships, and when I asked them about it they said that they allowed for non winged creatures to join their air force as pilots of these crafts and allowed for the pegisi to rest before they got to their destination.”

That last bit got Spitfires attention. “ Wait a second I’ve seen your airship design and it doesn’t look like they can carry more than a small unit.”

“Ah you see that was a personal model. The kind the other dimension were using are much larger models that can be used for troop transport and shipping. Here follow me I managed to grab a diagram all those years ago.” Safon said as he opened the door to the lab gesturing the two in.

The two generals looked around the makeshift lab as Safon went through papers he had on his desk. Four Star looked at the blackboard on against the back wall with the motorized carriage drawn on it with various things written in english around it.

“Another one of your ideas?” Four Star idly asked looking it over.

“Huh.” Safon asked as he turned around with the blueprints and saw Four Star looking at the blackboard. “Oh that’s something else I have in mind. I’m going to have to contact a couple mechanics in Prance before I can really start first. Now here’s the diagram I was talking about.” He unrolled it and showed the two the design on it.

The diagram paper was slightly worn from age but it wasn’t really damaged, it just looked like someone put in in a desk and forgot about it for a long time. That wasn’t important to the generals though, they were concerned with the design on it. It had a large picture of the craft in the center, curiously the writing was all in equine with terms neither generals could recall off hoof and what looked like the Fancy Pants company seal at the bottom. Making a mental note of that they looked at the design itself.

Like Safon said it was a rather large ship, looking big enough to carry a small sized company. The ship itself was divided in four stories, the top being the balloon part with the water tank, the floor below that for comand with a cockpit, wireless telegraph office and mapping office, the next floor was for engineering containing the engines and generators with doors to the wings to get to the engines on them, finally the bottom floor contained barracks for the soldiers towards the front and a large compartment with a large opening door towards the back.

“As you can see it can transport a good amount of troops and with the newest in wireless telegraph technology can be in constant communication with the main base.” Safon continued.

“Interesting, is a prototype being built now?” Spitfire asked looking at the diagram.

“I sent a copy to Fancy Pants the other day. If his reaction was anything to go by he’ll begin construction soon and have one ready in about a month or so.” Safon lied.

Spitfire scratched her chin in thought. “Well if the prototype is anything like this design here then I think Fancy Pants’ company would have a contract on their hooves. Don’t you agree general?”

Four Star nodded. “ I would have to agree. In fact I might be able to find a use for it in my department too. Now.” He said as he checked his fob watch. “We must be going. Thank you for your time General and we’ll be sure to get in touch if we need anything.”

Spitfire nodded in agreement. “Yes thank you Professor.”

“Thank you General.” Safon said as he guided the two to the front door. The two generals nodded and put on their hats as Safon waved goodbye to them. “I’ll be sure to keep an ear out for you.” He called out before turning to Trinity. “When they’re out of sight we are going to run like crazy turkeys to Fancy Pants’ manor.” He whispered to her.

Trinity gave him a look of confusion at his statement. “I thought you said that you gave him a copy.”

“I lied.” He simply stated. “Now I’m going to close the door grab my coat and hat, then we’re going to make a run for it.” He then shut the door and slowly reached for his leather coat and hat. “Okay now when I open the door I’m going to start running. Just follow me and we’ll get there quickly.”

Trinity nodded and Safon reached for the doorknob and opened it quickly. “Now!!” He told her as he made a break for it.

Chamberlin was making his usual rounds in the manor when he heard a loud knocking at the door. As he approached it he heard Safon’s voice coming from the other side.

“Chamberlin open the door now!!!!” He yelled through the door.

“One second Professor,” Chamberlin replied as he approached the door and opened it to find both Safon and Trinity on the other side sweating and out of breath. “Oh dear are you two alright?”

Safon panted as he caught his breath. “Yeah….I’m ….fine. Hey…. do …..you ….know.. the ….signs…. of ….a ...heart ...attack?”

Chamberlin looked at him with confusion. “I’m afraid I don’t.”

Catching his breath Safon stood up. “I think I’ll be fine, but I need to see Fancy Pants now!”

“I say what’s going on out here?” Fancy Pants’ voice came in from the other side of the lobby. Safon and Trinity looked behind Chamberlin to see Fancy Pants walking towards them dressed in a rather simple black three piece suit with a white shirt with a standing collar,a purple floral neck tie, and his company insignia of a crown similar to the ones of his cutie mark on a pin in his lapel.

Chamberlin turned around to his employer. “It appears that the Professor needs to see you.”

Fancy Pants looked over to Safon and Trinity. “I see. Has something happened?”

Safon got a smile on his face. “You can say that. You remember the airships and how I said they can have a military use.”

“Yes. I do recall.”

“Well General Four Star and Spitfire visited me earlier and after seeing what I had for a military version, they said that if you have a good enough prototype, the military will commision your company to build several of them!”

Fancy Pants stood there for a moment to let the information Safon just gave him to sink in. “Do you have a design for a prototype?”

Safon reached in his coat pocket and pulled out the blueprints, stealthily taking the company seal off as he did. “I have one right here I snagged a few years back.”

Fancy Pants levitated the blueprints over to get a better look. “ Professor old chap. This is wonderful news!!”

Safon still had a smile on his face. “I thought you would think so!!”

“You were right.” Fancy Pants said before turning to Chamberlin. “Chamberlin can you get this to the Airship Yard Foreman. Call the restaurant when you’re there.”

Chamberlin nodded. “Yes sir. I’ll see he gets it immediately.” He went back to the side closet, where he got his bowler hat and left for the Airship Yard.

After Chamberlin left Fancy Pants turned back to the two. “ Well now that that is taken care of would you two care to join me in for lunch. I was going to meet my wife at a nice restaurant nearby. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Safon said as he turned to Trinity. “What do you think?”

Trinity nodded. “I’m okay with it.”

“Capitol.” Fancy Pants said before getting his hornburg hat. “It’s a Prench restaurant called Roseraie It’s not that far from here.”

The three eventually made their way to Roseraie. True to it’s name it was decorated with many rose plants still in bloom and well kept. They made their way through the front door and to the reception area where a Prench stallion waiter dressed in a formal tailcoat and burgundy vest and bow tie recognized Fancy Pants immediately.

“Ah Mister Fancy Pants! Madame Fleur De Lis is waiting at your usual table.” He said before he noticed Safon and Trinity. “ Will these two be joining you today?” He said unsure of their appearances, with Safon’s outfit being mismatched and Trinity still looking like a beggar.

Fancy Pants took off his hat. “ Thank you élégant, and yes these two will be joining me. Is there a problem with that?” He probed.

“No! No! Of course not sir I just wanted to be sure. You know covering my bases.” élégant nervously replied.

“I understand this is Professor Safon and his new assistant Trinity. They are both partners of mine and I’ve invited them for lunch this afternoon. Now please take us to our table.” Fancy Pants said handing his hat to the waiter.

“Yes Sir.” élégant said as he took Fancy Pants’ hat and lead them to their table.

As they walked into the restaurant Safon looked around at the decor. It was typical high class turn of the century French decor with rich burgundy and gold color scheme, all the patrons dressed in fine clothes, and the waiters dressed in tail coats with black vests and bow ties.

They eventually got to a small private booth out of the way of others where Fleur De Lis was waiting.

“There you are dear. I was wondering when you would get here.” She said before noticing Safon and Trinity. “Ah now I see. How are you doing Professor?”

“Wonderful Mrs. Lis.” Safon started politely. “I was dropping off some designs to Fancy Pants and he decided to invite us to lunch with you. If you don’t mind that is.”

Fleur chucked, “ Oh I don’t mind.” She told him before looking to Trinity. “ And how are you Trinity is the Professor taking care of you?”

“Yes he is mam.” Trinity said happily but with a nervousness.

Fleur chucked again. “You don’t have to call me mam, Fleur is just fine.”

“Yes Mrs. Fleur.”

Safon chucked at Trinity. “ Yeah we’re working on that.”

“I see.” Fancy Pants said before looking over at the booth. “We should probobly sit down now.”

Fleur nodded. “Agreed.”

They all sat down and looked over their menus. Safon looked over his, as he did he realized how close Prench and French cuisine were. While there was no meat in the selections almost everything else in it was just like what he would have found in a fancy french restaurant at the turn of the century. He even found coffee under the beverages.

“Looks like I’ve found what I’ll be having.” He said as he put his menu down and looking over at the couple sitting across from him and Trinity. “Oh by the way, when I was running halfway across the city a thought came to my head. I was wondering about getting a telephone installed. I remember hearing something about lines being set up in the city, and thinking that one would be really helpful.”

Fancy Pants already knowing what he wanted put his menu down and looked over to Safon. “ Well telephones have only recently become common place, and the project to put lines in the city has only began last year.” He said before turning to his wife who decided what she was going to have. “ Wasn’t it only last year that the royal castle had some installed?”

“Yes I do think so. In fact I believe it was Princess Luna who insisted on getting them installed.” Fleur said.

“Oh yes now I remember. Ever since she came back she’s been fascinated with all the new technology coming out.” Fancy Pants replied.

“Yeah I remember her having an interest in some of my tech.” Safon added.

“Yes well anyways.” Fancy Pants said getting the conversation back on track. “ I believe your district will be done some time in November.”

“That sounds perfect.” Safon said. “I need to focus on making a movie camera anyways.”

Fancy Pants raised an eyebrow. “ You mean like what the Flim Flam Brothers had last night?”

“Yeah. When I talked to them last night they said they wouldn’t sell one to me. So I’m going to make a slightly different model so they can’t sue me.”

“Yes I remember them thinking that moving pictures wouldn’t really catch on. I didn’t think so of course and tried to buy the rights but they wouldn’t sell to me either. I should have warned you.” Fancy Pants said.

Safon shrugged it off. “Oh it’s fine. I remember people thinking the same in my world. trust me though it will catch on. I just need one to archive my experiments.”

“ You know I remember hearing about some magician with a design for a camera but not too many details though.” Fleur added.

Fancy Pants tried to remember where he heard something like that. Suddenly it came back to his mind. “Oh I know who you’re talking about dearie. Her name’s Trixie Lunamoon. She was the first one I tried to contact about moving pictures, but she said she was busy attempting to make a play using one though.”

Fleur thought about the idea. “That sound interesting. We’d need to keep an eye out for any news about that.”

Fancy pants nodded in agreement. “I’d say that sounds like an experience. What do you think Professor?”

“Well.” Safon started. “If it’s like the early films of a magician in my world. I’d say we won’t be disappointed.”

As they finished talking a unicorn waitress approached with a notepad and pen levitated with her magic. “Hello my name is Jours Ensoleillés and I’ll be your server today. Are you ready to order, or do you need some more time?”

Fleur started. “ Yes Fancy and I are ready. We’ll have the usual just tell Cuisinier it’s us and he’ll know what we want.”

“Alright.” The waitress said writing the order down. “And you ready Sir?” She asked Safon.

“Oui. Je vais devoir la soupe Torino et café à la crème. (Yes. I'll have the Tourin soup and coffee with cream.)” Safon told her in perfect French shocking everyone at the table.

After the initial shock the waitress eventually spoke up.“Oui monsieur.” She said as she looked to Trinity. “And you miss?”

Trinity looking unsure just said the first thing to come to mind. “I’ll have what he’s having.”

The waitress wrote it down in the notebook and closed it.“Yes Mam. I’ll get these to the kitchen and be back with your beverages shortly.”

After she left Fleur looked at Safon impressed. “Professor where ever did you learn to speak Prench so quickly?”

“Well actually I didn’t learn Prench.” He started surprising everyone again. “It seems that the spoken languages here are the same as the ones from my world. What you call equine is just like english in my world, and as I just proved what you call Prench is just like french.”

“I see, fascinating.” Fancy Pants added.

Safon chuckled “Yes it is. I’ll have to see how constant it is later.”

They continued to talk as their meals arrived with Fancy Pants and Fleur having salads and Safon and Trinity having their soup. As everyone ate élégant came over with a candlestick telephone being levitated in his magic.

“Pardon me Fancy Pants but you have a call on the other end.” He said.

“Oh thank you.” Fancy Pants said as he took the phone and put the speaker to his ear and microphone to his mouth.

“Hello this is Fancy Pants……...Chamberlin what did the Formare say about the designs?......I see!!” He said excitedly as he listened further. “How long did she say it would take to have a working prototype?.........That long huh?”

He thought for a bit before an idea came to his head. “Ok listen, I want the best team to work on this non stop until it’s done both the morning crew and the night crew. If we do that we might be able to get this done in time.”

“Alright tell her we’ll start tomorrow with me personally overseeing this. For now tell her and the teams to get some rest because tomorrow will be a big day…. I’ll see you at the manor goodbye.” He hung up the phone and levitated it back to élégant and nodded to him.

“Was that what I think it was.” Safon said hopefuly.

Fancy Pants smiled as he responded. “Why yes it was!!! Now is there anything you can think of before we start?” He asked thinking about his attack plan.

“No not really, just follow the instructions to the letter and you’ll be just fine.” Safon said waving off the concerns of Fancy Pants.

“Excellent.” Fancy Pants said before looking at his meal and then his wife. “Fleur dearie, I’m going to have to leave early and rest. Can you tell élégant to put it on a tab?”

“Oh course dear. Now go home and rest it sounds like you’ll need it.” She told him reassuringly.

Fancy Pants kissed her on the check before getting up. “ I will. And Professor I’ll be sure to keep you up to date on the progress.”

“ Good luck Fancy Pants. If anything happens call me and I’ll see what I can do.” Safon told Fancy Pants as he left for his home.