Chapters Author's Note
Hello Everyone this is the revised version of my intro. I developed my writing ability and decided to go back and improve it. I hope you enjoy the changes I've made.
Prologue
A lone man limped his way through the woods he found himself to be in now. He looked like he survived a disaster with his black pants dirty and even having a hole in the right knee revealing a metal brace on his leg. The grey argyle pullover sweater he had on was just as dirty with a white shirt with a torn collar on under it. His hair wasn’t better being disarrayed, showing signs of being slicked back at one point. The dark brown hair dye in his hair that was beginning to wear out revealing his normal light brown hair color. He continued to limp until he reached a clearing in the woods to reveal his most unusual craft, a reversed engineered flying saucer.
The craft was fitting as the man also known as Henry A. Safon the Second was quite an unusual person. He was an immortal man who along with at least two others, his brother and best friend has gained his immortality though means even he’s not too sure of. All he really knows is that he has looked to be in his early 30’s since he was in his early 30’s despite being well over 1500. Because of this immortality, he has been able to gain quite a vast array of skills from thievery, to a couple instruments, military skill, mechanics and physics. That skill in mechanics in particular has allowed him and his brother to craft such a device after ‘losing’ the original.
The saucer itself was a rather small compared to similar crafts one would see in an old 50’s b-movie, looking like it was meant for personal travel rather carrying a team of would be invaders. However that wasn’t the only difference in it’s design. It appeared to have been built by human hands rather than extraterrestrials. All the dimensions built to be usable by an average sized adult human male. The exterior decorative designs also showed the taste of human hands with the whole thing painted like a black 1970’s muscle car with a large flaming bird symbol on the top. However all the hard work was hard to appreciate due to the fact that it looked like Safon flew the thing through a war zone on free ammo day.
He climbed on top of it and opened the glass dome on top to allow him to get in. Inside the differences from a typical saucer didn’t end. All the electronic components were all of different eras throughout the late 20th century and early 2000’s, from a 1972 Magnavox Odyssey controller serving as external camera controls, to a 1985 Quasar portable tv serving as the monitor for the cameras, a 1970’s Sony stereo system supplying music through mixtapes and even a 2002 Toshiba Portégé 2000 acting as a ‘brain’ for all the systems. The control chair didn’t even look like the kind of thing someone would put in a flying craft, instead it was an old ratty recliner he just stuck in there and never bothered to replace.
Safon sat in the chair and began to activate the laptop. “ Lets see here,” He said to himself as it started to boot up. The laptop booted up and had many windows on it that pertain to various functions of the saucer, “ Alright where are you. Systems are…. func….tional to an extent I …..guess,” He said sounding unsure at the red flashing ‘danger’ on the window.
“ It should last me a trip.” He told himself going through the other windows before spotting the one that controlled his trans-dimensional device, “Oh crap, I don’t need you anymore,” He dragged his cursor to the top intending to close it. However unknown to him, in his haste he just minimized it.
He continued to go though the programs before deciding the saucer should hold long enough for one trip. He slid the laptop out of the way and opened a compartment under it to pull out flight controls. As he pulled them out he flipped a couple other switches causing the saucer to activate. The controls started to light up with life as the saucer itself began to rise from the ground. Grabbing the controls he took control of the rather rocky flight. It was clear that he should take as little time returning home as possible.
As he flew the saucer his cell phone began to ring. Carefully reaching a hand into his pants pocket he pulled out his 2005 Motorola Razr and seeing it was his wife he answered the call.
“Hi honey. I’m glad you called because I have good news. That arrogant prick is gone.”
His wife’s voice came through the speaker, “Augustus told me. Are you on your way to the manor now then?”
“Yeah I am. Are Vincent and Elizabeth with you?” He said while trying to fly the saucer one handed.
“Yes. I would put them on but they still don’t want to talk to us,” She said sadly.
Safon sighed, “ Honey I know it’s painful and you know why we did what we did. Just,” He sighed again, “Just let them get it out of their systems and we’ll try to make up for it later. Ok?”
She sighed also, “I know. Just get home and we’ll go from there.”
“I will,” He said before the saucer came to his mind. “Oh before I forget call Bill and Augustus over. This thing is falling apart.”
“You aren’t flying that thing home are you!!!” She asked concerned.
“Of course I am. Don’t worry I put some duct tape on the reactor to hold it. Should last long enough to get home. Now I’m flying this thing one handed so I’m going to hang up.”
“I hope so. Just be careful.” She said concerned as she hung up.
After he hung up he slid the laptop to the side of the controls to check the gps and see where he was. As checked a large red warning took up the screen saying “WARNING REACTOR CRITICAL!!!!”
“Oh shit,” He said to himself as he heard an explosion in the lower level of the saucer. The explosion caused a fire to come up through the opening to the lower level and it quickly got around the cockpit. “Fuck,” He screamed as he looked at the laptop going through the programs looking for the emergency shutdown. As he went through the programs without really paying attention he clicked one he didn’t want.
The Screen then flashed “TRANS-DIMENSIONAL DEVICE ACTIVATED”
Safon’s eyes grew big, “What fuck no!!!!” He tried to shut it down but it was too late and the device was beginning to send him to an archived dimension.
In Equestria’s capital city of Canterlot two unicorn royal guards stood at their post on the city walls in the middle of the night during a heavy rain storm.
“Damnit why did the pegasi have to make this a fucking monsoon.” The younger guard complained as he readjusted his raincoat.
“I don’t know, something about lack of rain last year I think,” The older one added not really paying attention as he looked through his binoculars for any dangers.
“Well they better make up for it soon I don’t think I can handle another night like this,” He said before turning to his partner, “See anything?”
“No not really. Anything on your side?”
“I don’t know let me see,” The young guard levitated his binoculars to his eyes. As he looked he saw a light in the sky just under the clouds. “Hey would anypony be dumb enough to fly an airship in this?”
“Huh?” The older guard responded before moving next to his partner, “ I don’t even think you can get that far in one in this weather,”
“Well, Somepony must have…” He said as he zoomed in on the binoculars. As he zoomed in he saw the light get bigger and bigger until it was close to the mountain. “Holy shit I think it’s going to crash!!!!” He yelled.
The older one looked through his binoculars and saw it was no kind of airship he’s ever seen, “Damn it don’t look like one of ours!!! We have to sound the alarm,” He shouted as he ran to the mechanical alarm at the post. Using his magic he cranked the alarm causing it to sound and alert the whole city.
Celestia awoke to the sounds of the alarms going off. She quickly got out of her bed and ran out of her chambers to see Luna running towards her.
“Sister!!” Luna called as she approached Celestia.
“Luna what’s going on!?! Are we under attack?!?” Celestia asked in a panic.
Luna took a second to catch her breath, “I don’t know all we know is that a metal craft has crashed into the nearby woods,” She said making sure her sister heard the part about the craft.
Celestia’s eyes grew big at the description, “You don’t possibly think it’s him do you?”
Luna looked at her sister with uncertainty, “ I’m not sure, Captain Stonewall is out there right now with a search party to find the crash site,”
Celestia cleared her throat, “We’ll have to see what he finds then won’t we?”
“It looks like we will,” Luna replied as she looked out the hall window to the forest.
“Arr…” Safon groaned as he woke up. “Fuck my head…..” He groaned more as he started to get awareness of his surroundings back. He looked around to find himself still in his seat in the saucer, but the saucer’s dome was shattered and still mostly on fire. “Holy fuck that’s bad.” He said to himself.
He climbed out of his chair despite the pain. As he got out of the chair and to the top of the saucer he felt a familiar pain.
“Argh, goddammit!!” He yelled clutching his stomach. “What the fuck why am I…..SHIT!!!” He yelled out as he realized the trans-dimensional device sent him to another dimension. Having not planned this he was unprepared for the pain crossing dimensions can cause a person. “Christ…” Looking around in the heavy rain he saw some light in the distance and started to head in their direction.
“ALRIGHT EVERYPONY SPREAD OUT AND SEARCH!!!” Captain Stonewall shouted to the other guards as the unicorns used light spells and the pegasi and earth ponies used lanterns to search the area.
“Sir!! I think I found something!!!” One of the earthpony guards shouted shining his lantern towards a large trail of destruction caused by the craft crashing.
“Follow that path!!!” Stonewall shouted.
The guards quickly followed the path and came across the craft that crashed. None of them have ever seen a craft like that in their entire lives. It was so unlike the suspended airships that were semi common in equestria being a single round saucer made of metal rather than wood and cloth.
Stonewall cleared his throat getting the guards attention, “Find out who was piloting this…..thing…..” He stopped as he heard painful coughing coming from the woods nearby. Silently signaling the others they slowly approached the source of the sound. As they got nearer they saw an outline of a figure leaning against a tree. Stonewall nodded and the unicorns shined their light spell at the figure and got the shock of their lives.
Safon shielded his eyes from the light shined on him and took a look at the people who found him to find that they weren’t people but equines. Safon wasn’t surprised at this having been to universes populated by equines pretty close to these ones. That and also at this point he didn’t care due to the pain he was feeling. So he decided to try and speak to them.
“He….llo…? Do….y….ou und…..er...sta...nd me?” He asked between coughs.
The ponies looked at him with shock before the one standing in the middle spoke up. “Yes….I understand...you….Who or what are you?...” He asked getting past his shock.
“M...y name is He...nry….a Sa...fon…..” Safon managed to get out before succumbing to his wounds and passing out.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. “Ah Jesus Christ my head.” Henry groaned as he got up holding his head. As he got up he looked around to find he was in old fashioned hospital room, looking around he saw eight horse like creature staring at him in shock.
“Um hi there.” He said to them but they just continued to stare at him. “Are you the ones who put me here?” The tall white one just nodded. “OK. Then where is my stuff then?”
“Over there.” The purple unicorn said pointing a hoof at the table with the folded up clothes.
“Ah thank you.” He said politely as he got up and limped to the table and picked up his stuff then limped back to the bed to get dressed. “So where am I then?” He asked calmly as he finished putting his pants on and unfolding his shirt to put it back on.
“Um you’re in Equestria’s capitol city Canterlot Uh---- what’s your name?” The purple unicorn replied confused.
“Professor, Professor Henry A Safon the second and yours?” Henry replied looking at his sweater and deciding not to put it on.
“Twilight Sparkle.” She replied politely but still nervous.
“OK I HAD IT!!! WHAT ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU HERE?!?!” A rainbow haired pegasus demanded tired of all the talking.
“Well I’m a human and I’m here because my ship acted up and sent me into this world by accident.” He said calmly putting a cigarette in his mouth. “I can smoke in here right?”
“WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE YOU?!? YOU SEEM PRETTY CALM FOR BEING IN A STRANGE UNKNOWN WORLD!!!” She continued to yell.
“When you’re as old as me and had the life I had you learn to roll with what life has given you, Miss---.” He said as calmly as his other statements as he got up looking for something.
“Rainbow Dash calm down this creature is our guest and we must treat it with respect.” the white unicorn said as her horn glowed pulling down the angry pegasus. “I’m sorry about her dear she can be a little brash sometimes, My name is Rarity over there is Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie pie.” Pointing to the two ponies and single pegasus, “and over there is the Princesses Celestia and Luna.” Pointing to the taller ponies.
“I understand but as I said I’m so old and this is not the first world I have visited and for the record I’m male. Now where is my wallet?” He said looking around.
“This?” Luna said levitating the folded leather square to him.
“Yes thank you. Now do I have to stay here or am I free to leave?” He asked putting the wallet back in his pocket.
“When you say you’re so old how old does that make you?” Celestia asked as her as her eyebrows rose.
“Well I my world it’s 2006 AD and I was born in 445 AD so that would make me 1561 years old.” Safon said putting on his shoes. “Now can I leave or…”
“Wait how is it possible for you to be so old does your species live a long time?” Twilight interrupted now extremely interested at what wonders this strange creature could tell her.
“No, last I checked humans have a lifespan of 100 years if they’re lucky. I became immortal or ageless I don’t really know, nor have I bothered to figure it out. So about me being here?”
“You can’t leave!!! There is so much we can learn from each other like your culture, history or technology!!! Just think of what we can do!!!” Twilight pleaded him this kind of thing could only happen once and she didn’t want to lose out on her chance.
“Listen I need to get back to my home I have a family to get back to and I need to get back to my ship.” He said looking out the window. Suddenly a look of terror came across his face “Wait a minute how long have I been out?!?!” He asked in state of panic.
“Just about two days, why?” Luna asked getting concerned at his sudden terror.
“SHIT!!! BECAUSE THE REACTOR IN MY SHIP COULD GO CRITICAL AND BLOW UP!!!!”He yelled back causing the others in the room to jump at this news.
“So how big of an explosion could it be you crashed out in the woods.” Applejack questioned hoping he was exaggerating.
“ITS POWERED BY A NUCLEAR REACTOR WITH A FAIL SAFE EXPLOSION OF FIVE MILES PLUS I HAVE ENOUGH EXPLOSIVES IN THERE TO BLOW UP A MOON!!!!”
‘WHAT!!! WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO HAVE SUCH DESTRUCTIVE THINGS!?!?” Celestia screamed.
“I HAVE TO POWER THE FUCKING THING SOMEHOW, NOW I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE AND SHUT IT DOWN!!!!!!” Safon anxiously yelled as he ran toward the door.
“YOU CAN’T JUST RUN OUT THERE YOU WILL FREAK EVERYPONY OUT!!!” Twilight quickly yelled lighting her horn to cast a spell to subdue him. But then he groaned in pain and clutched his rips before collapsing over from pain.
“FUCKING CHRIST!!! I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SHUT IT OFF!!!” He screamed while in intense pain.
“We understand, but if you're wrong and you run out there ponies will see you and panic." Twilight said trying to calm him down.
“Okay you may be right but we can't take the chance trust me a nuclear reactor going critical is not pretty.” He managed to say after calming down while attempting to get back up.
With an air of urgency hanging over them Twilight and the others walked away and huddled to brainstorm on how to sneak him out of the hospital.”OK girls we need to figure out how to smuggle him out and quickly.”
“I could try and fly him out,” Rainbow dash suggested.
“No that won’t work he’s still recovering from his wounds,” Twilight pointed out.
“OH I KNOW WE COULD PUT HIM IN A BIG PIÑATA AND SAY THE HOSPITAL DIDN’T LET ME THROW A PARTY. THEN THE GUARD WOULD SAY, “Why do you still have it then?” THEN I WOULD SAY I’M STILL HAVING A PARTY JUST AT HOME DO YOU WANT TO JOIN.” Pinkie pie said in a tone that the others didn’t know if she was joking or not.
“Well-- Ah don’t know about that why don’t we just stuff him in a crate and ship him where the ship is?” Applejack said jokingly.
“Wait that would be perfect!!!” Twilight said looking over to Safon.” What do you think?”
“Fuck it that’s how they got me to Korea anyways.” Safon said with unease finally managing to stand.
“There are guards surrounding your craft right now I’ll write a letter to let you in and you can shut it off.” Celestia said exiting the room in a hurry to go and write the letter.
About an hour later they managed to get a crate and put Safon in there with books and an array of medical equipment.
“Are you going to be okay in there Mr. Safon?” Twilight asked as they hurried to the entrance.
“First it’s Professor and second yes I’m fine now hurry up and get me to my ship.” Safon said quietly.
As they got out reporters taking photographs and asking questions surrounded them.
“Miss Sparkle why are you here?”
“Does this have anything to do with the strange creature?”
“What is in that crate there?”
The reporters continued to ask more and more questions getting in the way of getting out of the city.
“Listen I am not here about the creature I am just here to pick up some books the hospital donated to the Ponyville library and pick up medical equipment for my personal experiments.” Twilight told the reporters quickly before using her magic to get them out of her way and quickly getting away from them.
When they managed to get to the city gate Captain Stonewall was there waiting for them.
“Is the creature in there?” He asked looking at the crate.
“Yes I’m in here, now can we hurry this up!!!” A voiced yelled out from the crate.
“Well anyways, Celestia said you would lead us to the crash site.” Twilight said looking out toward the woods.
“Yes it’s just this way. About time the guards have been complaining about a song continuously playing out of it.”
The captain quickly led them into the woods towards the ship. As they got closer they saw the trail of destruction left by the crash and when they could see it they were amazed by it. Even though it was mostly destroyed they could tell it was a large saucer shaped craft about half the size of a small one story house made of black painted metal with a large phoenix painted on the top with a shattered glass dome at the top.
“Stop this area is restricted no pony is allowed here.” One of the guards said in a serious tone.
“Stand down soldier they are here with the creature to check on his craft.” Captain Stonewall told the guard.
“Yes sir.” With that the guard stepped out of the way and let them in the quarantine zone. As the got closer they heard a a strange song coming out of the craft.
“Say it to me gently, let the sweet talk flow.
Come a little closer, make love to me."
“My word such filth how can any pony listen to such raunchily songs.” Rarity complained disgusted by the music as they let Safon out of the crate.
“Ah have agree with Rarity on this one Mr. Safon. What if a foal were to hear it.” Applejack said bucking the crate causing it to fall apart.
“Professor!!! It’s Professor I may not know how I got my degree but I am going to milk it for all it’s worth and also like it would do anything to children, trust me they have heard worse.” Safon said getting up and stretching and putting a cigarette in his mouth. “Alright now let me in there and I will see if it will blow up or not.” He looked at the ship while pulling the brass rectangle out of his pocket and opening it causing it to make a flame that he used to light his cigarette.
Safon walked over to his craft and climbed up on top of it. He then walked over to the dome and climbed inside turning off the song.
“ Sorry Miss Stafford but this is a tough crowd. OK now I’m going to climb in and check the reactor if we’re lucky then it should be good.” He said going into the lower section of the ship.
As he worked the others stood there waiting for him to come out
“I win again Rarity!!” Pinkie said victorious in another game of tic tack toe.
“I don’t even know why I try with you.” Rarity replied
“This is taking too long!!!” Rainbow dash yelled getting impatient
“Rainbow Dash calm down we don’t know how his technology works.” Twilight said trying to make sure the cyan pegasus didn’t do anything brash.
“Well he needs to hurry up” She replied before flying above the craft. “Hey Mr. hurry up down there!!!!”
“God damn it it’s Professor and don’t worry I’m done.” Safon replied climbing back up to the top. “It turns out it was not going to blow so we lucked out on that.” He then sat in the chair in the dome and started fiddling with the controls. “Well thanks for the help now I am getting the fuck out of here.” Suddenly the ship made loud noises and started lighting up. The ship then started rising up a few feet before it slammed down on the ground hard knocking Safon out of his chair. “GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!!!!!” He yelled getting up.
After Safon attempted to leave only to discover that his ship did not work he attempted to fix it. He worked in there for an hour before eventually came out covered in oil, soot and sweat and his hair is disheveled and even more faded.
“Well it’s official the engine’s fried, the reactor is only producing a fraction of it’s power. The circuits in the Interdimensional transporter are also fried and my mix tapes are fucked up. “He angrily said as he lit a cigarette and took a hit.
“What does that exactly mean?” Captain Stonewall asked looking confused.
“Basically it means I’m stuck here until I can fix the transporter.” Safon told him as he took a seat on his ship.
“OK, I would love to help with that what kind of materials do you need?” Twilight asked fascinated by the prospect of building a doorway into another world.
“Lets see” He said trying to remember. “ With the reactor not working at full power I will need access to a nuclear reactor, and steel to re-build the machine itself. I’ll also need some microprocessors to make the computer work again. The rest we should be able to salvage from the one in my ship.”
“A micro-what?” Applejack asked with a look of confusion.
“You know what a computer chip is right?”
“Uhh, what’s a computer?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“YEAH AND WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO FEED IT CHIPS?” Pinkie asked.
“Let me guess you don’t have computers.” He said and Twilight no we don't have any idea what you're talking about.”OK televisions?” Another shake. “Great, stereos?” More shaking. “Radios?” He asked now very nervous.
“No we don’t have any of those things.” Twilight said growing more concerned.
Safon just stood there for a few seconds letting this information process. “Great just great.” He started pacing around in thought. “Just fucking great! Now that means I have to wait for you people to invent the right parts!” He angrily stomped his way back to his ship before kicking it. “FUCK!!”
“Where are you going?”
“TO SEE IF THE FUCKING LIQUOR CABINET SURVIVED, I NEED A FUCKING DRINK!” He yelled back climbing back into the ship.
As Safon made his way back into his ship the girls took this moment to huddle and discuss their new visitor.
“Well um he seems nice.” Fluttershy said. “When he’s not yelling at least.”
Rarity looked over at his ship with disgust. “Well I think he is a vulgar ruffian disguised as a gentlecolt. Did you girls hear that filth coming out of that craft?”
Rainbow Dash was still eyeing the ship with suspicion. “I think he’s up to something.”
“Rainbow I think you’re being paranoid.” Twilight said getting annoyed of holding Rainbow Dash back all day.
“He almost blew up Equestria, how can we trust him after that!!!”
“He didn’t mean to do it on purpose. Besides what reason does he have to destroy us, he seems more interested in returning home.”
“Whatever I’ll be keeping an eye on him though.”
Eventually, Safon came out holding a bottle of whiskey and wearing a pair of strange sunglasses with gold frames.
“Well I lucked out, now I can get drunk while I wait for vacuum tubes to be invented.”
Twilight not knowing what to make out of that decided to use this to get more information out of him.“OK then, Well Mr--” an angry glare was shot at her.”I mean Professor Safon why don’t you tell us about yourself.”
Safon walked over to the girls and took a seat on a near by log lighting another cigarette while doing so “Well there is a bit for me to tell what exactly do you want to know?”
“How about Who are you, where are you from, what is that craft and why did it crash?”
“Alright well my name is Professor Henry A Safon the second I currently live in Albany New York in the United States of America in my world, but I’m stuck in this fucking place. That craft is a flying saucer that my brother me and a few of my friends reverse engineered after I crashed the original and I have no idea how it crashed. I was flying it home after tying a couple loose ends then all the suddenly there was a fire and I lost control and my inter dimensional transporter turned itself on and sent me here.”
“Here’s one why do you have dangerous weapons in there that could’ve destroyed Equestria?!” Rainbow Dash asked trying to interrogate him.
He just sat there calmly taking a last drag from the cigarette and throwing it on the ground before saying. “Because I deal with dangerous enemies on a regular basis and just got done dealing with the most dangerous of them all.”
“OH, yeah how dangerous?”
“Very dangerous, but now he’s gone and I was planning on returning to my family but we see how that worked out.”
“Family?” Applejack asked starting to look at him in a different light
“Yes I’m happily married with a son and a daughter and I have my brother.”
“Anypony else?”
“For humans it’s anyone else and no I just got married 14 years ago and my kids are only 12. So for the longest time the only family I had left was my brother.”
“What about your parents?”
“They’ve been dead since my brother and I where 6 so his friend raised us until we were adults and became merchants.”
Applejack looked at him knowing the pain of having no parents.“Ah’m sorry about that.”
“It’s fine we moved on a long time ago.” Safon said in a relaxed manner as he took a swig from the bottle.
“If we’re done with this sad stuff, he still has some explanations.” Rainbow Dash said as impatient as ever.
“Like what?”
“Like why was that thing going to blow up?!?”
“Well because while nuclear reactors are very powerful they are very fragile and you need to be careful with them.”
Twilight used her magic to drag her away. “Rainbow Dash will you quit badgering him. He has enough to deal with without you bugging him”
Rainbow picked herself up and pointed a hoof at Safon. “Fine but listen here you I’ll be watching you.”
Suddenly a bright flash came and when it dissipated Princess Celestia was standing there looking around nervously.
“I trust that you were able to prevent the destruction of Equestria?” She asked trying to stay calm.
Safon was rubbing his eyes from the aftermath of the bright flash caused by Celestia’s teleportation. “Yes and did you need to fucking blind everyone in the area?”
Celestia breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness I don’t even want to know what would have happened if it went off.”
“Yeah let’s just say it would not be pretty.”
“Well with that threat taken care I trust you will be leaving back to your world?”
Safon looked angrily back at his ship while taking a drink from the bottle“No, the fucking teleporter broke and you don’t have the technology to fix it.”
“Can you do something else to fix it?” She asked concerned.
“I might be able to make something from scratch but I need a lab.”
“Well I might be able to arrange that. If you are going to be here for a while I will need you to stay at the castle so you don’t cause a panic.”
“I understand but I will only go peacefully if I am not put in a cell.” He said keeping a close eye on her.
Noticing he was looking at her closely she realized she would have to be careful with what she said“I understand your concern, but you must try to stay hidden.”
Safon knew she did not trust him but he needed to get home and he couldn’t do that in a cell. “You’re right but I don’t have to be in a cell to be hidden and I need equipment.”
Realizing that she couldn't argue with his logic she thought for a moment. “Very well but you need to have a guard on you at all times.”
Safon took a finale swig from the bottle and threw it in a random direction“Fuck it. I’ll go and get a suitcase.”
“We’ll get the crate ready Princess.” One of the guards side.
With that Safon went back to his ship and after a few minutes he came back with a suitcase in hand.
“Here hold this.” He said throwing his suitcase to one of the guards who struggled to pick it up. He then walked over to the crate and got in it for the guards to seal him in it.
“We’ll tell you when we get there.” Captain Stonewall told him before leading the group back to the city.
The guards loaded the crate onto the back of a wagon and started to take it to the city. Safon looked out of the hole they left for him this time and saw the trail of destruction left by the ship crash. “ Wow I'm glad I was able to steer away from the city." He said to himself with a sigh of relief.
After a little while they reached the city gates and after some talking between Captain Stonewall and the guards stationed there they opened up the gate giving him his first proper view into the city of Canterlot. Looking around Canterlot he was getting flashbacks to London in the late 1800’s. There were what looked like old gas streetlights that were retrofitted for electric lighting. Stallions dressed in frock coats or sack coats with colorful vests ties with shirts with high stand or wingtip collars with a few wearing banker's collared shirts and either derby hats, top hats or newsboy caps, mares dressed in elaborate colorful dresses complete with corsets and wide brim hats with flowers. Workers wearing dingy clothes unloading large blocks of ice out of an insulated wagons. Small poor children harassing ponies for money or food, paper-colts on the corner selling newspapers and small general stores, and this was further hammered in by the slight fog on the streets likely caused by some factories nearby.
As they continued to pull the wagon down the street the castle came into view, it also reminded Safon of castles he’s seen in his lifetime with a mixed architecture that suggested that parts of it were built on after it’s original construction. They eventually reached the castle and entered in at the service entrance were Celestia was waiting for them there they unloaded the crate and let him out.
Celestia watched as Safon got out of the crate and started stretching. “Alright Professor for as long as you’re staying here you must stay in the private sections of the castle we can’t risk you being discovered.” She told him in a commanding tone.
“I know now do I have a room or something I can stay in I would like to get settled in before I start my work.” Safon asked nicely picking up his suitcase.
“Yes you do it’s up in the higher levels away from the public sections of the castle. Now I have matters of state that I need to handle so I will trust you will follow my instructions.”
“What about us Princess?” Twilight asked wondering what to do now.
“With the Professor wanting to settle in for today you are free to leave or you could stay in the castle if you want.” Celestia offered.
While the others were thinking about the Princess’s offer Rarity didn’t need to think. “A chance to spend the night in the Canterlot Castle of course we will take your offer!”
The other five girls looked at each other and nodded. “Sure I don’t have weather patrol tomorrow.” Rainbow dash said
Fluttershy spoke up enough for the others to hear. “Angle and the others should have enough food to last them till tomorrow night.”
“YEAH AND IT SHOULD GIVE ME TIME TO PLAN A WELCOME TO EQUESTRIA PARTY FOR THE PROFESSOR.” Pinkie Pie said excitedly thinking of possible party games and themes.
“Ah think Big Mac should be able to handle the morning chores, but I should try and get home later.” Applejack added.
“Well I guess that means we’ll stay the night then, and that give me the chance of asking the Professor more questions.” Twilight said already thinking of questions.
“Wonderful now the guards will lead you girls to your rooms and for you Professor Safon.” Celestia turn toward him. “ Captain Stonewall will lead you to your room where my sister is waiting to meet you, now I really must go.” With that the Princess left the room to deal with her business and the other six were lead to a different section of the castle leaving Safon alone with the Captain.
“Come on it’s this way.” The Captain told him in a commanding tone as he began to walk down the hallway.
Safon soon followed him down the hallway looking around at the architecture noticing the various stained glass windows depicting events of Equestria’s history. “Hey am I allowed to smoke in here?” Safon asked reaching into his pockets.
“Um… Yeah of course.” Stonewall replied looking back at him with confusion.
“Ah thank you” Safon said putting a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it. They reached the end of the hallway where they entered a tower with stairs leading to multiple floors. While they were climbing the stairs Safon decided to break the silence. “So have you been a Captain for long?”
“No I haven’t, I was second in command for a few years until the last captain got married to one of the Princesses a couple months ago.” The Captain said irritably.
“I’m going to guess by that tone you don’t like me that much.”
Stonewall stopped in the middle of the stairs and gave Safon an angry glare. “Well thanks to you I’ve spent the past two days dealing with reporters, scared civilians, and the Princesses asking about your craft every five minutes. SO NO I don’t like you.”
“Alright fair enough I guess. If it helps this was not my plan.”
“You may be telling the truth but that doesn’t change that you’re stuck here and I have to deal with the consequences.”
As they continued up the stairs Henry started to attempt to make some more small talk. “So being in the military was it your choice or a family thing?”
“Do you always ask questions?” Stonewall asked starting to get annoyed.
“I’m just trying to make this walk less boring.”
“Sigh Fine, It’s family tradition that whenever a colt gets old enough they enlist in the guard. It’s been that way since as far back as anyone can remember.”
“Ah I thought so but one never knows.”
“Ok and you’re a Professor of what?” He asked not really caring.
“I’m a Professor of Physics and before that I was a barber, agent, banker, lawyer, detective, and a general.”
“What was that last one?”
“Detective or general?”
“General.” Stonewall was now getting interested in what Safon was saying.
“I was a General on and off for the United States Army from 1913 until 1952 but that was mostly in title. They put me in charge of my personal squad in various missions that needed special expertise that only we had, but on rare occasions i was put in charge of large attacks. In 1952 my knee was shot out causing me to have this leg brace and I was deemed unfit for military service so I went on to work on military R and D.”
“So that’s how you became a Professor?” Stonewall asked actually interested in what he was saying.
“Truth is I have now idea how I got my degree I was doing a medical test with my brother and I blacked out for a year only to find myself working in a university in california.”
“Ok.” Stonewall said not knowing how to react to that.
“Yeah so I just ran with it until I was fired due to some blackmail but since then I preferred the title Professor to move on from my military days.”
“Why?”
“Let’s just say I have not agreed with the Army for a while.”
“But you have a duty to your country.”
“Yes I do but I also have the right to question my government.”
“You aren't an anarchist now are you?” Stonewall angrily accused Safon.
“No no I just want what is best for my country and right now I believe the government is wrong.”
“That’s what they say before they blow up government buildings.”
Safon knew that he would have to be careful with what he said now. “Listen I don’t know how you government is ran but mine encourages questioning it’s how it’s survived so long.”
“Well here we vote on ponies who know what they’re talking about to do the job for the less educated.”
“Fair enough I will do my best to respect that.”
“Good the less I have to deal with.”
After they were done talking they continued up the stair until they reached a hallway and walked down that until they reached a door.
“Here is where you’ll be staying there will be a guard standing here if you need anything.”
“Alright thank you it was nice talking to you.”
The Captain looked at Safon. “While I still don’t trust you it was nice talking to an old soldier.” With that the Captain saluted him with Safon returning the favor before leaving to handle other matters.
Safon opened the door to find a immaculately, decorated room with ivory colored floral wallpaper, a large chandelier, a mahogany desk with matching chair on one side, a bed with emerald green bedding on the other side, a large window with emerald green curtains and a sitting area in the center with Luna sitting there waiting for him.
Luna continued to sit there and watched his movements. “Ah there you are we’ve been waiting for you.”
Safon walked over and took a seat in one of the other chairs setting his suitcase down. “Hello there Princess---?”
“Luna.” She answered. “My name is Luna.”
“OK. Princess Luna,thank you for your hospitality.” He said politely.
“You’re welcome. Now about going home.”
“Well I guess that your sister told you about my ship not working right now.”
“Yes she has and that you don’t have what is needed to fix it.”
“Yes your technology is not advanced enough for me to be able to properly get home.”
“Oh what is it you need. We may not have the best knowledge of today’s technology but We can get somepony who does.”
“I need a microprocessor, a device that is able to process the information in a computer.”
Luna just looked at him confused. “ I’m afraid that I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Safon sighed “I thought so Miss. Sparkle told me that technology does not exist yet. So I will need to make my own.”
“Well you’re free to stay here for as long as you like and we will supply you with whatever you need.”
“Great thank you, but for now I just need to brainstorm for now.” They both got up and Luna walked over to the door.
“Alright you do what you need. We do hope you enjoy the room It is fitted with every modern convenience including electricity and down the hall is a washroom with running water.”
“Perfect I will need to clean myself up later.”
“Well unfortunately, I must go to raise the moon.”
“Alright good night I’ll call if I need any assistance.”
With that Luna left the room leaving Safon alone. He walked back to the chair and picked up his suitcase and took it to the bed where he laid it down and opened it taking out some clothes for later and laid them down. He then took out another cigarette and lit it before walking over to the desk and sitting down looking at the desk lamp.
“OK where is the switch.” He said to himself before he grabbed the cord and pulled it up until the end came up revealing it to have a screw in end. “Great.” He said out loud in annoyance as he climbed on top of the chair and grabbed the chandelier and unscrewed a light bulb out to screw the cord in. When he was done and the desk lamp was on he sat back down and picked up a quill on the desk and pulled out a piece of paper to begin working. “This is going to be awhile.”
It was the morning in Canterlot and the city was beginning to wake up, the morning papers were already delivered, shopkeepers were opening up their shops, and workers were on their way to the factories.
In the castle the bearers of the elements were already awake and in the private dining room with the Princesses.
Celestia took a sip of her tea and looked over to the girls. “How did you girls sleep last night?” She asked nicely.
“We slept well Princess.” Twilight answered back and looked around. “ Where’s Professor Safon?”
“The guard said he was going to be down shortly.”
They then heard the door open and Safon walked in though this time he looked different. His hair has gone from its faded dark brown color to a light brown and was neatly parted to his left, he also had new clothes on. Instead of the slightly dirty white shirt and black dress pants he now had on a clean white dress shirt and black plaid pants with suspenders on and his leg brace on over his right pant leg. “Hello everyone.” He said taking a seat.
“Good morning Professor did you sleep well?”
He reached over and poured himself a cup of tea and looked at the Princess wide awake. “No I didn’t sleep at all I was busy working on ways to make vacuum tubes.”
Celestia looked at Safon with concern. “Are you sure that’s healthy we wouldn’t want you to exhaust yourself.”
“Don’t worry about me I can go for awhile without sleep” He calmly told them taking a sip of tea.
Rarity looked across the table at Safon’s hair. “Dear what ever happened to your hair?”
“What? Oh that well I had hair dye in my hair from my last job so I spent an hour and a half washing it out.”
“What kinda job did y’all have that made you put hair dye in your hair?” Applejack asked.
“The kind where you couldn’t be recognized.” Safon answered reaching across the table to grab a piece of bread.
“Why couldn’t you be recognized?”
“Because that job required me the utmost secrecy.” He said quickly.
Princess Celestia knew he was not going to elaborate so she had to think of a way to move the conversation on. “So Professor how did your research go so far?”
“Well so far I don’t have much to go off of I may be able to use vacuum tubes to get the computer working properly but thats all I have. I’ll need to go back to my ship and get somethings to double check though.”
“We can arrange that for you whenever you’re re-------” Princess Celestia tried to say before the doors flew open and a regal looking white unicorn with a blonde mane dressed in a formal looking suit consisting of a flawless tailored black frock coat with matching vest and a royal blue floral cravat.
“Auntie Celestia we must speak immediately about the maids you emp---- WHAT IS THAT THERE?!!?” The new arrival yelled out terrified at the strange creature sitting at the table.
“Ah good morning Blueblood. This creature sitting here is the creature from yesterdays newspaper.” Celestia told him in an effort to calm him down.
“YOU MEAN THAT STORY WAS TRUE!!!” He yelled at a higher volume.
“I have a name you know.” Safon added in putting jelly on his bread.
“Oh sorry, Prince Blueblood this is Professor Henry Safon the second.”
Safon just sat there and took a bite out of his bread. “Hi” He said in a deadpan tone.
“WHAT ARE YOU?!?” Blueblood continued to scream at Safon terrified.
“First I’m human and second will you quit fucking screaming it’s fucking annoying.”
Celestia got up from her chair and walked to the terrified prince putting a hoof on his shoulder. “Blueblood you need to calm down Professor Safon means no harm. He will be staying in the castle for a while until he can find out how to get home to his world. Until then we need to keep him a secret.”
Blueblood stood there for a minute letting the information sink in. “Alright.” He said calmly before he remembered the last statement. “The maids can wait I need to rest for a bit.” He then left the room thinking of what he just saw.
Safon watched Blueblood leave then he looked over to Celestia. “So about getting me back to my ship.” He asked nicly trying to get back on topic.
Celestia replied,“We can have a create ready for you down at the service entrance when you want to go.”
Safon got up from the table and started walking to the door. “Well alright I’ll go and get the keys to the ship.”
Blueblood quickly ran into his room looking for his servant. “Women where are you!” He angrily demanded.
A young mare in a black and white maids outfit quickly ran into the room and stood before him. “I’m right here sir.” She said out of breath.
Blueblood looked a her with anger. “There is a strange creature in the breakfast room!”
She looked at him with confusion. “What oh you mean Professor Safon. Yes Celestia briefed all the staff yesterday about him.”
“And why was I not told!?!?”
“You said something about going to a Wonderbolts derby.” She said meekly.
“Why didn’t you tell me when I returned home!?!?”
“You said that you wanted to go to bed.”
“Just shut up!!” He demanded and started pacing the room. While pacing he started to think of something. “Wait a second Auntie Celestia doesn’t want others to know about him.” He said in a devious tone.
“Yes that what she told us.” She replied not knowing where he was going.
“So if I can get some reporters in here I can have them ambush him. Unless Celestia gives me what I want.” He said deviously as the plan formed in his head. He turned to his maid. “I want you to go and find out where the creature is.”
“What are you planning sir?” She asked concerned.
“That’s none of your concern. Now go!” As she ran off to go find Safon Blueblood looked out the window and across the castle gardens where the building housing the throne room was with a smile. “Soon I will get what I deserve.”
Inside his room Safon was going through the notes he wrote last night. “OK I think I was able to make a list of things I need to get from my ship.”
“Let me see” Twilight said as she levitated over the papers and looked at the diagrams. “I can understand the pictures and the mathematical formulas but I can’t make out your writing.”
“Well likely because it’s written in english and from what I gathered looking a street signs in the city your written language is different from mine.”
Twilight looked at him questioningly. “But I can understand what you’re saying.”
“Written and spoken language are two different things.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Oh well be thankful we can communicate or otherwise this would be a lot harder.”
Deciding that she couldn’t argue with that she returned her attention back to the papers. “Don’t you have original blueprints or diagrams from when you first built it?”
“Considering the fact that I wrote the original plans on a bar napkin over thirty years ago, no not really.”
“O-k then well so you remember how you built it then right?” She asked hopefully.
“Most of the details but I can’t remember it all so I’m just going to have to wing it like I did the first time.”
Twilight just looked at him for a few seconds before she got angry. “What do you mean you're just going to “wing it”? You need a plan of attack before you build such a complicated piece of machinery!”
He just shrugged. “Yeah no I work better when I make shit up as I go.”
Twilight was now getting angrier. “You can’t do it like that you need planning and testing!”
“Listen my brother and I managed to build the first one just fine. I think I can manage.”
Twilight was now very angry at Safon “The nerve how can you think that you can skip such a critical part!?!?”
Safon grabbed his keys and started to walk out of the room. “Yeah what ever now I’m going down to the service entrance be stuffed in a crate if you need me.”
“Are you alright sugarcube?” Applejack asked Twilight concerned for her friend.
“Yes- yes I’m fine his response just caught me off guard thats it.” she replied calmly.
“That’s good we thought that you might have blown a gasket.”
“No I’m fine now lets go and make sure he gets to his craft alright.”
As they all left the room none of them were aware of the maid eavesdropping on their conversation.
“So they’re going to take him to his craft?” Blueblood asked his maid.
“Yes that’s what I heard.” She said obediently.
He started laughing. “Wonderful this accelerates my plan!”
“How so?”
“When he gets back I’ll have reporters waiting for him and he will be exposed unless Auntie Celestia gives me what I want!" He said as he wrote a letter excitedly. “Now go and deliver this letter to the Canterlot Times!”
She took the letter and watched as Blueblood started leaving the room. “What about you sir?” She asked concerned for her employer.
He looked back to her with a grin, “I’m going to have a chat with Auntie Celestia.”
Inside the offices of the Canterlot Times was a very busy place where columnists were busy typing stories on typewriters getting them ready for the afternoon papers, others were running in with new information, and the editor Clean Slate was going through the stories that were ready.
As Clean Slate looked at each story and started to notice a recurring theme. “Do any of you idiots have a story that does not involve the crash!?!” He yelled angrily across the office as he stood up.
“Sorry boss but that seems to be the only thing anypony is talking about.” Pencil Pusher yelled out from his desk.
“Well somepony find something else I’ll settle for a fucking bake sale at this point!” He yelled back as he flopped back into his chair and lit a cigarette before hearing a knock at the door. “Someone get that.”
Pencil Pusher got up from his desk and opened the door to find a young mare in a maids outfit with a shawl over it, a bonnet on her head and carrying a purse standing there. “Hello miss. Are you here to see somepony?”
She looked up at him nervously. “No I’m here to see the editor.”
He looked at her questioningly before turning towards the room. “Hey boss there’s a bird here who wants to see you!”
“Alright alright give me a second.” Clean Slate yelled back to him as he got up from his chair and walked over to the pair. “Hello dear. You wanted to see me?” He said nicely.
She looked over at the editor before looking in her purse. “Oh hello sir I’m here from the castle to deliver a letter from an anonymous source.” She nervously said giving him the letter.
“O-k. Is that all?”
“Yes now I really need to get out of here.” She said in hurry before running out the door.
“Well then.” He said looking confused at what just happened before opening the letter. “Well let’s see what we have here.” He looked at the letter for a minute before getting an excited look on his face. “Well gentlecolts it looks like we got juicy one!!” he looked around the office until he spotted two unicorns in dingy suits at the coffee table. “Newshound! Shutterbug! Get over here!”
“Yeah boss?” Newshound asked as he walked over.
“Listen that young lady who was just here gave me a letter saying that there is the story of a lifetime if a couple reporters hide in the service entrance of the castle and I want you two there to get it.”
“Uh boss how will we know what it is?” Shutterbug asked.
“The letter says you’ll know it when you see it. Now go!” Clean Slate yelled.
“Don’t worry bout it boss we’ll get it for you.” Newshound reassured him as he put his newsboy cap on and ran out with his partner.
Inside the throne room of the castle Princess Celestia was busy going through paper work involving new bill to pass or veto, or other mundane things involving public appearances when Blueblood came walking in looking very confident.
“Hello Aunty Celestia I would like to speak to you now.”
Celestia put down the paperwork and looked at Blueblood. “Ah Blueblood, are you feeling better.”
Blueblood looked at her with a smile. “Why yes! In fact I feel fantastic! But I do really need to speak to you, in private.”
“Why of course.” Celestia said with a smile before looking at all the other ponies in the room. “Court is dismissed for a break, give my nephew and I some privacy.”
“Of course Princess.” The guards said before leaving the room with the assistance.
“Okay now Blueblood is this about Professor Safon?”
“Yes in a way but first I would like to discuss Princess Cadance.”
Celestia raised her eyebrows. “What about Princess Cadance.”
“Exactly why was a peasant like her ascended into an alicorn and NOT ME!?!?” He asked angrily.
Celestia just sighed at Blueblood bringing this up. “Now Blueblood we have discussed this she has sho----.”
“NO!!!” He interrupted. “NO!! I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS BORN WITH NOBLE BLOOD! AND YET YOU DECIDE THAT A PEGASUS IN SOME BACKWATER VILLAGE DESERVES TO BE ASCENDED!!” Blueblood was now starting to lose some of his regalness with is hair coming out of place and cravat getting loose.
“Blueblood enough!!” Celestia yelled at him as she started to get angry. “You may not like my decision but you can at least respect it!”
Blueblood just laughed before straightening his hair and cravat. “Well no I will not respect it and you know what I will get what I want.”
“Oh and why’s that.” Celestia asked now nervous about what he was planning.
“Because I know that our visitor is out right now and I know that he has to get in and out at the service entrance.” He said with a smirk.
Celestia was now getting very nervous. “Where are you going with this?”
“Why it’s very simple. I have reporters waiting in the service entrance ready to ambush and reveal Mr Safon that is unless you ascend me into an alicorn.”
Celestia just sat there in her throne before she started chuckling. “Do you really think that is a good enough threat for me to give you that much power.”
“Laugh at me if you must but we’ll see who’s laughing when he is revealed and you’re made out to be a liar to your kingdom.” He said smugly unaware of the dark blue alicorn watching the conversation outside the door.
Meanwhile at the crash site Safon was inside his ship to get some equipment, he came out after some time holding several pieces of machinery in his hands.
“Let’s see these ones work still, so I’ll take these back and use them to help me rebuild the transporter.” He said putting them down.
Twilight levitated a few pieces to look at them closer fascinated by their complexity. “So these are microprocessors?”
“Yeah those are the ones that aren’t fried.” He sighed.
“So what do they do?”
“Well they they process the information in the computer though electrical currents.”
Twilight’s eyes lit up with wonder as she continued to look at the parts. “Fascinating!”
“Alright that’s all I can work with for now.” Safon turned his head to a couple of the guards. “Make sure that you don’t fuck up this equipment it’s very delicate!”
The two guards jumped to attention and saluted Safon. “Yes Sir.” The unicorn guard said as he levitated the parts into a crate full of hay. “Your crate is ready for you sir.”
“Okay Let’s get the fuck out o----”
Safon was cut off by a bright light caused by Princess Luna teleporting in. “Where’s the Professor?!?” She asked in a panic.
Safon raised his left hand while rubbing his eyes with his right. “I’m right here. Jesus Christ did you have to fucking blind me?”
“Sorry but we have no time!”
Twilight looked at the alicorn with concern “What’s wrong Princess?”
“Prince Blueblood, he’s in the throne room threatening my sister that he’ll reveal the Professor unless she turns him into an alicorn!”
“What!” Rarity yelled. “Oh that uncharming Prince! Why I don’t know why I ever fell for him!”
Luna gave Rarity a blank stare before turning back to Safon. “Listen you can’t go back into the service entrance there are reporters waiting to ambush you there.”
“Fucking great.” Safon said in a deadpan tone. “Okay let me think for a second.” The others watched him as he paced a bit in thought before he turned and pointed to Luna. “I think I got something.”
Meanwhile in the service entrance the two reporters were hiding behind a wall of crates.
“Whatever it is better fucking hurry up I’m almost out of smokes.” Newshound said as he checked his cigarette pack to see how many are left.
Shutterbug checked his camera to ensure it had a good angle. “What do you think it is Hound.”
“How the fuck should I know? All I know that this could be the story of a lifetime, now make sure that fancy camera of your’s has a good shot.”
“It’s not just a fancy camera it’s one that doesn’t need a stand.” Shutterbug said defensively.
“Whatever just b-- shit I think I heard something.” The two reporters quickly got quiet as the doors opened and a couple guards carrying a wagon with a large crate in it came in followed by Captain Stonewall and the bearers of the elements. “Oh this looks interesting.” He whispered to his photographer.
The two continued to watch as the wagon got closer to the door and the guards unhooked them selves from the wagon to walk to the back.
“Get ready.” Newshound whispered to Shutterbug as he watched on the edge of his seat.
The two guards got to the back and pulled out a crowbar to open the crate. As they were prying open the crate the reporters were getting ready to get the perfect shot of whatever was in there. After much effort the guards opened the crate to reveal to the reporters that inside the crate was……
NOTHING.
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?” Newshound yelled out blowing their cover.
Captain Stonewall and the rest of the guards jumped at the sound as the turned to the source and two of the unicorn guards used their magic to pick up the reporters. “Halt who are you two?” Stonewall demanded.
Shutterbug looked at Stonewall with fear in his eyes. “I’m so sorry we’re here with the Canterlot Times. We got a from an anonymous source that there was something coming in here and that we could get a story of a lifetime here. Please don’t throw me in jail!”
“Way to go fink.” Newshound said to his partner in disgust.
“Well you were the one who said ‘Don’t worry bout it boss we’ll get it for you’.... ”
“Shut up!”
Twilight deciding that she was tired of them walked up. “Well whoever sent the letter was wrong because I’m just here to pick up my old books.”
“Why do you need a big crate then” Newshound asked raising his eyebrows.
“I’m Celestia’s student I have a lot.”
“Sure you do.”
“Whatever.” Stonewall interrupted. “Now listen I can throw you in the dungeon right now for trespassing on royal grounds.”
“OH PLEASE DON’T!” Shutterbug pleaded.
“But I have more important things to do today so I’ll make you a deal I let you go and you two get out and leave us alone.” Stonewall offered before signaling the guards to drop them.
Shutterbug looked at Stonewall. “You mean we can go?” Stonewall just shook his head yes. “OH THANK YOU!!” He exclaimed as he hugged the Captains legs.
Newshound just picked himself up and headed towards the door. “OK whatever. Come on Shutter we have to tell the boss we ain’t got shit.”
Shutterbug quickly got up ran to his partner. As they left the castle Newshound looked back. “I got a feeling they’re hiding something.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean we got off easy. we’ll need to keep an eye out later.”
“Ok but for now let’s just be grateful we got out.”
“Sure whatever you say.” Newshound said as he headed to a nearby store. “But right now I need more smokes.”
“So auntie have you reached a decision?” Blueblood asked staring down Celestia.
Celestia looked at Blueblood with anger in her eyes. “The answer is still NO! It will always be no!”
“We’ll see about that.” He said smugly.
Blueblood paced around the room watching Celestia with her staring back at him with anger in her eyes before a sudden bright flash appeared. After the flash dissipated Luna and Professor Safon were standing in between them.
“WHAT?!?! NO!!!” Blueblood screamed in shock. Luna walked up to her sister as they just stared at Blueblood.
“I heard you talking to my sister. How dare you even try that?!” She said with anger.
Celestia looked between Safon and Luna just as confused as Blueblood. “ What do you mean?”
“I mean that I was coming to the throne room when I heard this worm threatening you.” She replied giving Blueblood a nasty look. “So I teleported to where Professor Safon was and he came up with the idea to just send the empty crate back normally and teleport with me.”
Celestia breathed a sigh of relief at this unexpected turnout. “Wonderful! How did the Professor handle to teleportation? I know some have difficulty with it the first time.”
Professor Safon looked up to Celestia clutching his stomach. “Just fine just give me a moment for the rest of my organs to show up.”
“NO!!!!!!!!!” Blueblood screamed now with his mane really out of place. “I WAS SUPPOSED TO WIN!! I WAS SUPPOSED TO BECOME AN ALICORN!!! YOU!!!” He continued to scream while pointing a hoof at Professor Safon. “YOU RUINED MY CHANCE AT THE POWER THAT I RIGHTFULLY DESERVE!!!”
Professor Safon looked at Blueblood then over to Celestia. “Can I just punch this fucker in the face? He is really starting to piss me off.” Celestia just nodded at him. “Thank fucking god!” He said with happiness as he approached Blueblood.
“NO YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU HIDEOUS MONS---!” Was all Blueblood managed to get out before Professor Safon punched him in the face knocking him out.
“Thank you I’ve had enough of that whiney prick.” He said lighting a cigarette he pulled out. “So now that that is taken care of we need to talk.”
“What about?” Celestia asked with concern.
“Simple we need to reveal me.”
Celestia eyes grew wide a she stared at the Professor in shock. “What!! Are you mad?!? We just stopped Blueblood from doing just that!”
“Yes and since I don’t think you will let me kill him and locking him up would look to suspicious it and if we let him free he will keep doing it. So if you do it on your own terms then he will no longer be able to hold me over you.”
“But we might cause a panic!!”
“We might but I need some freedom to build my machine.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean I will need to find investors to invest in me so I have funding to build the machine.”
“We can provide you with all the money you need.”
“Yes out of tax money that would leave records and then somepony will investigate and find that you have been giving it to a strange creature living in the castle. I can just see the scandal now.”
“We can---” Celestia stopped herself realizing that he was right such a scandal would ruin the trust ponies had of her and damage the societal system. “You're right.” She said in defeat.
“What your just going to go along with this?!?” Luna asked in shock.
“Yes I am. He is right Blueblood will keep doing this and the amount of money he needs can’t be taken out of tax money without anyone noticing.” She turned over to the Professor as he finished his cigarette. “So what’s your plan?”
“My plan is simple we don’t tell the whole truth.”
The next morning Celestia held a press conference in front of the castle. “Citizens of Equestria I have a very important announcement involving the rumors of the mysterious creature.” These words caught the reporters attention. “It seems the rumors were based on half truths. Yes a pilot attempted to fly an experimental craft while intoxicated and is still recovering and will be court-martialed, but I’m here to reveal that there indeed was a strange creature.” Those words caused many gasps and reporters to start taking pictures and asked questions. “Now. Now please calm down. The Royal Guards found this creature in the woods on their way to the crash site and they captured it. After a few days we found it to be a civilized creature from another plain of reality.” With this news even more questions arose.
“Princess how are you sure this creature is from another plain of reality and not a lost civilization?” one of the reporters asked.
Celestia looked over to the reporter. “This creature speaks our launguage and as it spoke to me i realized that it’s manner of speech and the clothes it wears are far too modern for it to be from a lost civilization.”
“Are you sure it is not dangerous?” the same reporter asked
“Now please I assure you that it is not dangerous and after much questioning I decided it would be best for me to share this news with my citizens. Now please welcome our visitor Professor Henry A Safon the second.” She gestured a hoof over the the castle gates as they opened and revealed Professor Safon behind them wearing the same clothes from when he arrived in Equestria but this time he put on the sweater and tried to make them appear cleaner than they were.
There were many gasps and photos being taken as he walked over to Celestia and took the megaphone. “Um Hello Equestria.”
“What are you?” One reporter asked.
“Why are you here?” Another asked.
“Where are you from.” A third reporter asked.
“Listen, Listen. As your Princess has said my name is Professor Henry A Safon the second and as for your questions I come from another plain of reality where we have more advanced technology and my species is the sapient ones. I am here because I am a scientists who was experimenting with a device that would allow travel between dimensions but unfortunately it malfunctioned and exploded. My appearance in your realm here was of no deliberate intent.
“How long are you going to be here?”
“Due to the fact that you do not have the technology for me to properly build a new machine I currently do not know.” He looked over to Celestia and she nodded. “Now I regret this conference is over but I am currently writing an article that is to be published in all of the national newspapers and it will be delivered to their offices tomorrow. Thank you and your world for welcoming me.” With that he and Celestia walked back into the castle leaving many of the reporters asking questions and taking pictures with the guards keeping them back.
It’s been two days since Princess Celestia revealed Professor Safon, and one day since the article he wrote was published in every national newspaper. Since then the bearers of the elements returned home to their lives and Safon has used his newfound freedom to go out and explore the city of Canterlot. As he took one of these walks to a nearby general store he saw ponies keeping their distance and talking about him.
“What do you think he’s doing out here?” A mare whispered to her husband.
“I don’t know, maybe he’s going out for fresh air”. He answered back.
Across the street a couple of earth pony workers were watching him and spitballing ideas to each other. “I heard that he brainwashed the princesses and is plotting our downfall.” The worker in the light blue shirt and vest said seriously.
His friend gave him a blank look before glancing over at the professor. “You can’t be serious.”
“No I swear it’s true I read it in a newspaper.”
“The tabloids ain’t a legitimate newspaper.”
“Shut up.”
Professor Safon didn’t mind these rumors, he enjoyed the freedom of being able to go out and explore the new world and took note of how familiar it was to him. This world was just like earth in the late 1800’s except dominated by ponies, but for now he was actually going somewhere. Last night he discovered he only had two cigarettes left and after some talking and borrowing some money from the Captain he was on his way to a general store.
“Hello anyone in here?” He called out as he walked into the store.
“Just a minute.” The shopkeeper yelled out from the back.
As he waited he started taking note of how it was an old fashioned one. Crates filled with hay and other goods getting ready to be unloaded, shelves with pieces of miscellaneous clothing, displays of fresh fruit and vegetable to the side with scales nearby and a counter with an ornate brass cash register on the counter. This store was also a little cleaner than most victorian general stores were, but he just wrote that off due to how close the castle he was and how nobles like living near royalty.
“Alright, how can I help you today?” The unicorn shopkeeper asked asked before freezing up at the sight of the Professor.
“Ah, hello there I just came here for pack of cigarettes.” Safon said deciding to break the tension.
“Uh ok.” The shopkeeper continued to stare at him as he walked backwards and bumped into the wall behind the counter, as he regained his sense of surroundings he walked over to the cigarettes. “Ok so what kind do you want?” He said uneasily.
“Hmm you know I don’t know what’s a good brand?”
“Uh well personally I smoke Duke Brand cigarettes, but a lot of my customers prefer Imperial.”
“Ok,” Safon said in thought looking at the cigarettes. “ You know what I’ll take both kinds.”
“Alright then.” The shopkeeper said as he levitated the two packs to the counter. “That’ll be two bits then.”
“Great here you go.” As he put the gold coins on the counter he noticed that the shopkeeper was still uneasy with his presence. “And for the record I’m not going to harm you.”
“Well um you see...” The shopkeeper stammered.
Safon looked at the shopkeeper with understanding eyes.“It’s fine. I know my presence is a great shock but don’t worry I’ll try and leave as soon as possible.”
“I’m sorry you’re right, I didn’t intend to offend you.”
Safon picked up the packs and looked at the shopkeeper. “I’m not offended.” As he walked toward the door he looked back to the shopkeeper. “Thank you for your service.” He said nicely as he walked out the door.
The shopkeeper looked at the door as he left. “Thank you and come again anytime.”
Chamberlain made sure that his appearance was impeccable, his light grey coat was nice and clean, slightly darker grey mane was slicked back with not even a single hair out of place,his black tail coat and vest were pressed and perfectly clean, black bow tie straight, pristine white shirt ironed and that his fob watch was accurate by the second all of which he viewed as the requirements of being a head butler. He has been under Fancy Pants' employment for many years, and over those years he had kept the manor was in tip-top shape, overseen the many servants that were hired on for important events and has even organized the annual garden party when Fancy Pants was unable too, and throughout those years Fancy Pants had shown immense gratitude for his service by paying him much more than other nobles would pay somepony of his position. As he made his usual morning rounds of the mourning he heard a knock at the front door. “Hello. Can I help you today?” He said in a welcoming manner before he looked up and nearly jumped at what he saw.
On the other side of the door stood Professor Safon in a grey three piece suit with a blue paisley neck tie, freshly shined black dress boots and a black fedora with a small red feather in the band. “Yes hello there as you likely know my name is Professor Henry A Safon the Second. I am here to see a Mr. Fancy Pants, Is this where he lives?” Safon said in a civilized tone.
The earthpony butler looked at the Professor before calming himself down “Why yes this is the home of Fancy Pants, Do you wish to speak with him?” He asked in a dignified manner.
“Yes I do, Is he currently available? If not I can always return when convenient.”
“I do believe so, but let me check with him first. In the mean time please come in and have a seat and I will go and see if he would like to speak with you.” He said gesturing a hoof to the foyer.
“Thank you.” Safon said as he came in and took off his hat.
“Can I take your hat while you wait sir?”
“Yes and again thank you for your assistance.” After Safon handed his hat to the butler to be put on a nearby hat stand as he walked over to a nearby chair and took a seat taking a time to admire the fine architecture of the manor.
Chamberlain walked upstairs into the manors private dining room where Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee were eating their breakfast. “Master Fancy Pants.”
Fancy Pants put down his tea and looked over to his butler. “Yes Chamberlain what is it?”
“You have a guest down in the foyer who would like to speak to you.” Chamberlain told him not knowing what exactly to say.
He looked over to the clock and raised an eyebrow. "I do? Now who could it be this early in the morning?”
"Well you see sir it appears that the strange creature from the news is here and wants to speak with you about something.”
A look of shock was suddenly share across the couple's faces. "Are you sure Chamberlain?” Fleur asked with concern.
“I am quite sure madam.”
“Okay then.” Fancy Pants said as he thought for a few second. “Did you ask him what he wanted to talk about?”
“I fear I did not sir.”
Fancy Pants thought for a few more seconds before standing up. “Well I guess I will find out what he wants.”
“Are you sure dear?” Fleur asked concerned for her husband's safety.
“Yes I’m sure honey. After all it would be rude to not at least find out what he wants.” He said as he made his way to they foyer.
Professor Safon continued to sit in the foyer patiently waiting for Fancy pants before he saw Chamberlain return with a very regal looking white unicorn with a blue mane split down the center and styled in a very regal manner wearing a tailored black morning coat with a sky blue vest a matching blue cravat with a gold floral design around his neck and a pristine white shirt with gold buttons and a wing tip collar, and unlike Blueblood this pony had an air about him that Safon liked.
“Hello there!” He said getting up and walking to the pair. “ You must be Fancy Pants! I am Professor Henry A Safon the Second.”
“Greetings and why yes I am Fancy Pants!” Fancy Pants said introducing himself to his guest. “Now Chamberlain here tells me that you wanted to speak with me.”
“Yes I wanted to speak with you. You see our mutual friend Miss Rarity told me that you could assist me with my needs.”
Fancy Pants raised his eyebrow. “Ah Miss Rarity sent you, I see.” He thought for a second. “How about we take this conversation to my office.”
“That would be perfect.”
Fancy Pants’ office was just a imacitantly decorated as the rest of the manor if not more so, the whole room was decorated in dark rosewood furniture consisting of book shelves against the left and right walls a coffee table and chairs set in the center and a desk and chair centered toward the back wall, a dark green floral carpet on the floor, a fireplace on the right wall with a few military looking awards and a photo of Fancy Pants in an officer’s uniform above the mantel and a large window overlooking his private gardens on the back wall.
The two sat in the center chair set as Chamberlain set a tray of tea on the table. “So Professor is it?” Fancy Pants asked as he took a sip of his tea. “What is it that I could assist you with?”
Safon took a sip of his tea and set the cup and saucer down. “Yes it is Professor and I will just get to the point for you. As you have heard in the newspapers I am stuck in this world.”
“Yes I remember.”
“Well you see to return to my home I need to rebuild my machine.”
Fancy Pants waited for him to continue not knowing where he was going with this.“I see.”
“Now to rebuild my machine I am going to need funding for materials.”
“Ah now I see, but as you may know I am a business-pony and I can’t just give you money for your personal project and not get anything in return.”
Safon chuckled a little bit. “ I understand completely, because you see with the new freedom of being able to leave the castle I have been able to get a feel for your world, and as I got a better understanding of this world I figured something out.”
“And what was that?”
“Simple your world is 100 years behind mine in terms of technology. So I am here with a business opportunity for you. Your company is currently branching out into the new home appliance market with the other products you produce and possible military contracts you have. I was thinking that I could supply you with patents for new inventions in exchange for money to fund my experiments and to live off of.”
Fancy Pants sat in his chair in as he thought carefully. “Do you have anything in mind right now?”
Professor Safon smiled as he looked Fancy Pants in the eyes. “Why infact I do. During my walks in the city I looked up and saw a few airships flying in the air, and looking at them they look like nothing more than a hydrogen filled balloon carrying a boat below them with cables. Why if the lines were to get cut by accident then everypony could die.”
“I see what you mean there have been a few reports of accidents on them and long flights on them get very cold being that high in the air.”
“And I can remedy both of those problems.”
Fancy Pants took a final sip of his tea as he thought one last time. “Well Professor If you can give me a design by this time tomorrow I will accept your deal!”
Safon got a large smile on his face as he stood up. “I can do you one better for you see in my world the kind of improvements are so common place that I have a design memorized, meaning that if you give me a team of engineers and the materials. In two days I could possibly have a working prototype for you!”
Fancy Pants got a look of shock on his face. “ You can do that?!?” Safon nodded his head. “Well if you can do that then you are free to you the airship yard my company uses and I will get my best team to assist you in the construction.”
“That would be perfect.”
“Capital!” Fancy Pants said excitedly as he got up and walked to his desk. “I will write you a letter for the foremen telling him what is going on and if you wait downstairs Chamberlain will have a carriage take you there.”
“Wonderful I will not disappoint!”
Two days later Fancy Pants’ carriage approached the airship yard to see whatever it was the Professor had in store for him. When it got to the gates and Chamberlain opened the carriage door Professor stood there wearing the same outfit from a couple days ago but he took off the coat and tie and unbuttoned his vest revealing the suspenders and belt holding his trousers up. “Hello there Fancy Pants! Are you ready to see what I have.”
“Well it would be rude of me to judge before I gave you a shot!”
“Great! Now follow me!” Safon said in excitement as he lead the entrepreneur to the yard.
As Fancy Pants followed the yard came into view and he saw what Safon spent the past two days on. The balloon was a simple design with rigid structure but unlike other airships there was no deck because instead of the ship part of the airship being suspended in the air by cables attached to the balloon, it was instead attached directly to the balloon, the ship part was also different it had one floor with large windows for viewing, a flat base and instead of wings that would flap it had rigid wings with engines in the middle with propellers pointing back.
“Well what do you think?!?” Safon said as he opened the door to go inside.
Fancy Pants looked at the airship with wonder as he climbed inside with Safon. “I must say I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“I thought you would say that!" You see this is a common design in my world for this type of craft with a few additions I've observed in other worlds and some adaptations for equine use. Now would you like to take a flight?”
He looked a Safon with glee. “Of course! I couldn’t pass a chance like this up!”
The interior was bare bones with only items necessary for flight being in it such as various tools and wiring while things like carpeting and furniture where left out. When they got to the control room Fancy Pants noted the controls were mostly the same as a normal airship but with a few differences. “You see with the ship and balloon fused together it is a much safer craft and with it being inclosed the harsher temperature of the high attitude won’t get the ponies inside. Also with it being enclosed and safer you can use these for things like transportation of ponies and goods.”
Fancy Pants nodded as he watched Safon fiddle with the controls and the airship started to release water from the front. “What is the water for?”
“The water adds weight, there are two tanks one in front and one in the back they weigh the ship down as we’re docked and it lowers by releasing some hydrogen from the top. So when it’s docked it will need both refilled but that's not a big problem.”
“I see.” Fancy Pants walked over to the controls and pointed to the levers. “So if I’m reading the labels right then this one releases the water from the front tank and this one is for the back?”
“Yes I had the other engineers label the controls for me so I can show you how to fly it.” As Safon pushed the levers to close the tanks the ship started rising. “And this here.” Pointing to the lever next to the steering wheel. “Is the control for the throttle, the farther forward you push it the faster it’ll go.” As he said this he gently pushed it forward causing the propellers to start spinning and the ship to go forward.
As they started to fly around Fancy Pants looked out the window to the engines attached to the wings on the side. "I say are those boat engines attached over there?"
"Yes they are. Those are really there as a proof of concepts really. They were quick to get and when I have the time I'll redesign them to be more aerodynamic."
Fancy Pants eyebrow raised "When you say more aerodynamic, What do you mean."
"I mean that I'll streamline them more so they'll put up less wind resistance and thus make it go faster," Safon said not taking his focus from flying the craft.
"Alright and now when you say faster, how fast are we talking?" Fancy Pants asked eagerly.
Safon stroked his chin in thought"Well with the right conditions and the craft is in perfect working order I would say 50 miles per hour to about 70,"
At this Fancy Pants gave Safon a look of shock. “Really?” Safon nodded and Fancy Pants got a bust of excitement from the possibilities that Safon could provide. “Why that is fantastic! Professor Safon I think we got ourselves a deal! When we land I’ll take you out to lunch and we can discuss the details of our deal.”
“Well then I’ll land this thing and we can talk, partner.” He said with a smile on his face.
“That sounds like a capital idea, partner.”
Late one night just outside the City of Portland, Oregon was a bar. This bar was a very filthy place where no respectable person would find themselves, in fact it was the hangout to the local branch of the infamous Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club. There were patrons drowning their troubles in various drinks, the bikers were gathered around the pool tables and the television on the counter had on news about the current war .
“The fate of south vietnam's northern provenance seems to rest on the shoulders of soldiers like these, and would also seem to be the hopes of american policy of vietnamization. Will they turn around, fight the enemy or will they keep running? Jim Laurie reporting for NBC NEWS Quang Tri South Vietnam.”
None of this mattered to the two newest patrons who looked over the bar before seeing a man in a brown three piece leisure suit with a plaid shirt and slightly disheveled hair waving them over. “Alright Henry what the fuck was it that was so important that you had to call us out here for?” The man in the grey tweed coat and plain bow tie asked angrily.
Henry got up from the booth he was sitting in and walked over to the two. “Augustus! Bill! It’s about fucking time you two got here!”
The other man in the maroon leisure suit with a new perm and mustache looked back and forth from Augustus to Henry. “As great as it is to see you, your brother has a point. What the hell did you call us out here for?”
“Good point Bill you’re right, come take a seat I got an idea for us to do while we wait for Nixon to get back to us.” Henry said as he gestured the two to the corner booth where he had a series of napkins with various drawings on them.
Augustus sat down and picked up one of the napkins and looked at the drawings. “This isn’t another LSD induced hallucination is it?” He asked with concern.
“No it isn’t. I haven’t had any in a week. These are designs for a machine to travel the multiverse.” Henry said in an excited manner.
Bill gave him a blank look, “You're sure you’re not on something right now?”
“That’s not important.” Henry said changing the topic. “This can change the field of quantum physics for ever.”
As they all continued to talk Henry found himself having problems hearing what the other two were saying. As he looked down at the napkins he found that the drawings looked like a bunch of scribbles. The Further they went He couldn’t even hear what he was saying and, his vision was starting to get blurry. “FUCK!!!!” He yelled out not being able to take it anymore, as he stood up everything around him froze in time and he heard a feminine voice.
“Having difficulty with your dream Professor?”
Henry jumped at sudden voice before turning around and seeing Princess Luna standing behind him. “Luna!?!? How in the hell are you in my dreams?” He asked angrily.
“As the Princess of the night I am able to go into other’s dreams and help those whose dreams are causing them great distress.”
“O-Kay.” Henry said deciding that was the best answer he was getting. He walked over behind the counter and grabbed a bottle off the shelf and poured himself a drink as Luna looked around fascinated with her surroundings.
“So this is your world?”
Henry took a drink and looked at Luna. “Well this is just part of it and it’s thirty years in my past.”
Luna raised her eyebrows. “Why are you dreaming about thirty years ago?”
“Because I was trying to remember the night I wrote the original design for my machine.”
“Then what was the difficulty?” She asked with concern.
Henry sighed. “The problem was that the 70’s weren’t kind to me. I was on the run, a very good friend disappeared, and I was using narcotics at the time.”
Luna’s interest was peaked by the first thing he said. “What were you running for?”
He sighed again. “Let’s just say that all it takes is one asshole feeding on paranoia of stupid people to kill someones reputation and accuse them of being ‘A threat to the American way of life.’”
Luna, deciding that he was not going to elaborate, looked to the two people he was talking too. “Who are these two?”
He poured another drink and looked back at them pointing the one in the tweed coat. “They’re my brother Dr. Augustus Safon and the guy with the perm is my best friend William Perdue.”
“And you brought them here to show them your idea?”
“Yes and in about two years the first inter dimensional portal generator will be created.”
“I see...”
Henry took one final drink before putting the lid back on the bottle. “Now if you don’t mind Princess I need to wake up and get back to work, there’s nothing here that can help me.”
“Very well, just dream again if you ever need my help.” With that Luna encased herself in a veil of mist and disappeared.
“Yeah I’ll be sure to do that.” He said with sarcasm.
It 5:30 in the morning and Princess Celestia has just awoken and now walking out to the balcony of her bedroom. Her horn glows puts power too the sun and it begins to move. A feat that normally requires a large group of unicorns she accomplishes on her own with barley a fraction of her power used up. After taking one final look to ensure the sun was rising properly she turned and gasped as she saw Professor Safon sitting in the small sitting area in the middle of her bedchamber.
"So that's how you raise the sun. I wounded what it looked like." He said calmly to her.
"Professor!! How did you get in here?" Celestia demanded from him before calming down.
He got up and walked to the balcony. "Let's just say I have ways."
"Well then to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
He stepped out on the balcony with her. "Well I came here to discuss the fact that I am still under supervision."
Celestia raised her eyebrow "Oh what about it."
"Well you see I have come to the feeling that I no longer need to be supervised by the guard."
"And why is that"
"Well due to the fact that ponies now know of my existence and combined with the fact that I have proven the fact that I am a danger to Equestria I feel that the presence of your guards are no longer needed."
"I see your point but are you sure you're ready to leave the guard's protection."
"Yes I'm positive."
"Very well grant you your request and tell Stonewall to stop diverting troops to protect you."
Safon bowed "Thank You. Your Highness." He said as he started walking out the bedroom.
Chamberlain was making his usual morning routine ensuring the manor was impeccable when he heard a knock at the door, he answered the door to find Professor Safon on the other side this time wearing a very mismatched outfit consisting of dark plaid trousers with a black paisley print shirt with a tan corduroy vest, a stiff brown leather button up coat and the same fedora as last time.“Ah hello Professor Safon, Master Fancy Pants is waiting in his office for you.” He said in his usual welcoming manner.
Safon looked over at Chamberlain as he took off his hat. “Hi there Chamberlain was it?”
“My name is not important but yes it is Chamberlain.” He said as he took the Professor’s hat.
“Don’t say that I know many like yourself and with out them their employers would be lost.” Safon said with serenity.
“Thank you for your gratitude Professor. Now if would follow me I’ll lead you the Master’s office.”
Inside the office Fancy Pants was sitting at his desk going through many papers sitting in front of him. He heard the door open and looked up to see Chamberlain and Professor Safon enter the room.
“Ah Professor Safon! Its great to see you!”
“It’s great to see you too but, I’m here to talk to you.”
“Why of course.” The entrepreneur said before looking to his butler. “Chamberlain would you be so kind and let the Professor and I talk in private.”
Chamberlain bowed before leaving the room shutting the door behind him, “Of course sir.”
“Now then how are you adapting to our world Professor?”
“Fine fine, it helps that I’ve already lived in a world like this before.”
“I see, actually Professor I was just wondering something.”
“Oh what was that?”
“Well you say you're here by accident but yet you have multiple outfits. I’m just wondering if Miss Rarity tailored those for you. Because if so it seems she’s losing her touch.”
Safon knew that someone would notice eventually but he had thought of an explanation in case the question did come up. “Well you see when my machine malfunctioned I was planning on traveling to other worlds so I had a suitcase full of clothes and other items with me. So when I wound up here the suitcase was with me, in fact I found a couple parts of my machine close to where I woke up. Really this is a more practical outfit to fit in your world as the black won’t stain and the coat is a rugged outdoors type.”
“Ah I see I guess you don’t have much of a selection then?”
“No just what I was wearing, the suit from the other day, a frock coat, this outfit, and one more pair of trousers and a few more paisley shirts.”
“I see, anyways how about we get back to business, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
Safon grabbed on of the chairs of the center set and moved it so he could sit closer. “Well you see I was looking in my room the Princess’s provided me and I realized something, the room is too small for me to build a new machine and I highly doubt they would let me blast a hole in the roof to make room. So I was wondering, if you could provide me with a laboratory where I might be able to work.”
Fancy Pants sat back in his chair and thought for a moment. “Well how about I do you one better?”
Safon’s eyebrows rose “How so?”
“Well you see that Patent you gave me.”
“Yes”
Fancy Pants looked at him with a smile. “My financial team went through it and said that if it went into full production for the air travel industry, and if a contract was made with the Equestrian military then my company’s intake could possibly double within a few years”
Safon immediately shot up from his chair and looked at Fancy Pants “You're serious?” Fancy just nodded his head. “Wonderful!”
“Yes and to show my gratitude I’ll buy you a house to do with what you wish.”
“Really!” Fancy Pants nodded his head again. “That would be perfect!”
Fancy Pants got up from his chair and walked over to the door, “Yes and I have a place in mind that’s not too far from here. I’ll get my hat and we can just walk over to it to see if it is adequate to your needs.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Safon said following Fancy Pants out the door.
Jet Set was sitting peacefully in his chair as he read this morning’s paper with a nearby wax cylinder phonograph playing an instrumental piano piece . He sighed at the fact that yet again the news was being dominated by Professor Safon and the scores of the recent Wonderbolts derby were forced to page 12. He took his fob watch out of his vest pocket and checked the time to find it was almost 9 in the morning. “Oh dear it’s getting late.” He said to himself as he got up and turned his phonograph off. “Dearie I’m leaving for the law office, I’ll try and be home by supper.” He yelled out to his wife.
“Okay dear just be sure to not get too wrapped up with work Hoity Toity is having a ball tonight and we just can’t afford to miss a single social function.”
“I’ll try,” He replied back warmly, “Now I must go.” Before he left he stopped at the mirror to check his appearance. He was as usual wearing what was newest in fashion with a suit consisting of a brand new black sack coat made of the finest wool, a black cherry silk vest with a floral design and ivory dress shirt with a banker's collar and a black neck tie. After ensuring he was presentable he used his magic and levitated his bowler hat on his head and stepped out the door. As he stepped out he looked around his neighborhood and to his shock saw Fancy Pants with is usual demeanor and top hat on standing in front of the vacant house that was next to his own. He immediately ran over to him “My word. Fancy Pants! What ever are you doing here?”
Fancy Pants turned to the source of the sound and saw Jet Set running over to him. Sighing under his breath he looked at the social climber. “Ah hello Jet Set. I forgot you live on this street.”
“Why yes Upper Crust and I live in the home just next door.” He said gesturing a hoof the the next door house. “But I must ask again. What ever are you doing here?”
Knowing that Jet Set won’t leave unless he gets information he figured it would be best to tell the truth. “Well you see I recently entered in a business agreement with an inventor and am now with him to look for a house where he can set up a laboratory.”
“Oh a scientist! What field does he specialize in!?” Jet Set asked with glee at the thought of having a scientist under direct employment of Fancy Pants living next door to him.
“I believe he called it Quantum Physics, but why don’t you ask him yourself he should be out any minute to tell me what he think of this location.”
“I will do that.”
After a few moments the front door of the house opened to reveal to Jet Set’s shock, the Professor Safon.
Fancy Pants looked over to the Professor as he walked down the front steps. “What do you think Professor?”
Safon walked over to the pair “Well the electrical system is basic but some wiring work should fix that, but beyond that I think that this place is perfect.” He said before looking at the shocked Jet Set. “Who’s this?”
“This is a local attorney Jet Set, I guess he’ll be your neighbor. Right Jet Set.” The entrepreneur said as he poked Jet Set.
“Umm.” Was all Jet Set was able to say at the thought of that the creature that has dominated the news for the past few days to his great annoyance now was going to be doing Celestia knows what in the house next to his own.
It was afternoon at the campus of the University of Canterlot. The campus itself had clearly been around for centuries sharing its architectural design with the older sections of the castle and the city walls. While the city walls were more utilitarian the campus was very ornate with its decoration. With detailed stonework across the roof tops, with small statues and gardens in front of most of the buildings. In front of the main hall sits large statue of its founder Star Swirl The Bearded.
Just inside the Main hall was the administrative offices where the dean’s office was located with, “Dean Golden Scroll” written in gold lettering on the door.
“I do apologize Professor, but we have no knowledge on this ‘Quantum Physics’. In fact that field of science simply does not exist here.” Golden Scroll said as he looked across his desk to Professor Safon sitting in the chair in front of it.
“I see.” Safon said with disappointment. He leaned back in the chair stroking his chin for a moment before sitting back up and looking at the dean. “Is there anyone in your magic department who has studied traveling to other worlds?”
"Well there may have been some research done into that field but not since the times of Star Swirl The Bearded and, any notes from that time are stored in the castle archives.”
Safon got up from his chair, “Well thank you for your time Dean I’ll be sure to follow up on that lead.”
Golden Scroll got up and lead the Professor to his office door, “You’re welcome and if you ever need any consultants the University of Canterlot is more than happy to assist.”
“Thank you and I’ll be sure to take you up on that offer if need be.” Safon said as he started to stepped out of the office, putting on his hat before closing the door behind him.
After being pointed in the direction of the castle Safon finds his way in the throne room just as Celestia dismissed her Court for lunch.
Celestia looked to the door and saw the Professor standing in the doorway. “Ah Professor! What is it that brought you here today?”
Safon walked over to the throne while taking his hat off, “Hello Princess. I actually came here to ask you something.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow, “Oh and what is that?”
“Well you see I recently went to the University of Canterlot to see if any of the Professors there had any knowledge that could assist me but, it seems that Quantum Physics has not been developed here yet.”
“I didn’t think so, but what about that brings you to me?”
“Well after Golden Scroll told me that I asked if anyone has studied travel between worlds. He told me that the only notes on that subject would be in the castle archives so that’s what brings me here.”
“The only pony in memory who has attempted such a feat was Star Swirl The Bearded but that was a thousand or so years ago”
“Okay so who’s Star Swirl then?”
“Well Star Swirl the Bearded was the magical adviser for Equestria One Thousand years ago, and he often did experiments in many fields and developed may magical theories one of which was the travel between worlds similar to our own. Sadly though most of his notes on that project aren’t here.”
Safon’s eyebrow rose at this information. “So either they’re lost to time or somewhere else.”
“You’re right about the second one. You see one thousand years ago Luna and I ruled Equestria from a different castle but after her…. banishment.” She said with a sad look on her face something Safon didn’t miss. “I chose to move the capital here in the mountains but, Star Swirl chose to keep his workshop in the remains of the old castle in his later years for privacy. I believe that there may still be some remnants of his endeavors there.”
He stood still thinking, “So if you think they’re there, then where is this castle?”
“It’s in a place called the Everfree Forest just outside Ponyville but, It’s a very dangerous place filled with many creatures.”
“Don’t worry I can handle dangerous places. Just tell me where this Ponyville is and I’ll take a train there.”
“Very well, Ponyville has a train station so all you need to do is buy a ticket.”
“That will work just fine, It shouldn’t be that hard to find the remains of a big fucking castle in the middle of the woods.”
“Good I’ll arrange for an overnight train then.”
“Good luck Professor.” She said as she levitated up a piece of parchment and a quil. “My faithful Student Twilight.”
Fancy Pants looked up at the sun. It was still the middle of summer and the heat was not going to let down any time soon. He eventually got to the front door and started knocking. “Professor are you there old chap?” He asked waiting for an answer.
“Just a moment.” He heard after he stepped back. Just as he heard the door opened after a moment the door opened to reveal Safon wearing the same outfit as the other day but without the coat and his sleeves rolled up. “Fancy Pants! What brings you here?!”
“Hello there I just came here to check up on how my new partner is situating to his new home.”
Safon got a look of excitement across his face. “Great! Why don’t you come in!” He said as he turned around and lead Fancy Pants in.
Fancy Pants took his hat off and followed him in the house. “I guess I can for a little bit.” As he followed Safon he looked around at the house. It was a standard two story house that was already furnished when he bought it for the Professor. Walking in to the sitting room he notice that despite Safon only living in there for about a day and a half he has already rearranged it.The books that were on the book shelves were removed and stacked in piles to be used as tables to hold papers or plates of food and drinks. There were black boards around the room with many equations on them that he didn’t understand. There was a new exterior horn front mounted phonograph that play round disks instead of cylinders that Safon found upstairs on one of the stacks playing an up tempo song . “I say is that Ragtime music playing on that phonograph?”
Safon turned around and looked at Fancy Pants. “What?- Oh yes it is. I found a few records in my suitcase so I decided to put one on while I worked. It helps me think.”
“I see.” Fancy Pants walked over to the phonograph and listened to the music. “ I only recently discovered Ragtime yet I really enjoy it. Infact i’m thinking about hiring a Ragtime band to perform at my next garden party, but I fear that my guest might not like such ‘raunchy’ music at Canterlot’s second most prestigious event.”
The record reached it’s end and Safon walked over and took the needle of and put it to the side, flipped the stop switch on the turntable and took the record off. “Yeah I know what you mean back when this was new in my world people thought the same thing but trust me they’ll find something else to complain about. Personally if I was you I would do it anyways.”
“Perhaps you’re right. but anyways, is there a particular reason you invited me in?”
“Oh yeah, I need to tell that I’m going away for about a week.”
Fancy Pants raised and eyebrow “Oh, why so?”
“You see, I went to the University of Canterlot today then to Celestia and they told me that there may be some research material in the Everfree Forest to help me.”
“I see, but the Everfree Forest? are you sure? I’ve heard how dangerous that place can be.”
Safon walked over to the corner of the room and got a crossbow from behind the chair there. “Don’t worry the guard gave me this and I have a sword and other weapons in my suitcase for just incase I ran into hostiles in my travels. Anyways I also have a new patent for you too.”
“Already!?”
“Yeah well it’s not a particularly advanced one. Here follow me into the dining room.” Safon walked over to the dining room door and opened it. Fancy Pants followed and saw that the dining room chairs and table were pushed to the back wall to make room and make the room into a laboratory space that could be used with more black boards and papers stuck to the walls and a desk against the side wall. On the desk was a brass device that looked like one of the engines and propeller from the zeppelin design but smaller on a stand and with a cage surrounding the propeller. “This is an automated desk fan. It runs on an electric motor that spins the propeller pushing cool air on you and cooling you down.”
“Interesting.” Fancy Pants said as he took a closer look at it. “But isn’t it a little late for something to cool you down?”
“Well right now I was thinking that it was getting to the time of year where it gets hot in ones home but too cold outside to open the window so they can have this to keep it cool in the house without opening a window ,and the design is so basic that you should be able to release it by the end of summer.”
“You know that might work. Do you have a design drawn up?”
“Yes I do and I think I got a hang of your writing system.”
“This fast?”
“Yeah I’ve always been fast at picking up basics of any language.”
“Ok then.” Fancy Pants took out his fob watch and checked the time. “Oh dear I must go now. Can you give me the designs and i’ll give them to my engineering team.”
“Of course now I must go and pack for my trip.”
Fancy Pants took the paper with his magic and went out the door putting his hat back on. “Thank you and good luck with your trip.”
“Thank you I will.”
Early the next morning in the Carousel Boutique Rarity was hard at work on new designs for dresses. Mare were starting to wear less restrictive dresses and some mares have even stopped wearing corsets and Rarity needed to keep up with the trends. As she continued to work she glanced out the window and saw Twilight Sparkle in her usual attire of a plain grey skirt with a white blouse with a bankers collar and a plain teal tie and vest and a black coat running to the train station. With curiosity getting her she left her sewing machine and went outside waving to the unicorn. “Twilight Dear! What ever are you doing running outside so early.”
Twilight stopped in her tracks and looked around to see Rarity running to her in one of her many work outfits a black skirt and ruffled white blouse and gold brooch. “Oh Rarity it’s you.”
“Yes oh dear.” She said catching her breath. “I saw you running and thought something was wrong.”
“Oh no not this time. I got a letter from Princess Celestia last night. Professor Safon is coming to Ponyville to go to the Castle of the Two Sisters and I’m heading to the station to pick him up.”
Rarity rolled her eyes, “Oh wonderful he’s coming here.”
“Yes, oh and do you know if he visited Fancy Pants I remember you mentioning him to the Professor.”
“Why yes infact I got a telegram from Fancy Pants saying that Safon gave him something amazing.”
“He did what was it?”
“He didn’t go into detail but he said he would show me during my next trip to Canterlot though.”
“He did? I’ll have to ask him when he gets here.” Twilight took out her watch and checked time. “Oh Sorry Rarity, but I really must go his train is due any minute.” With that Rarity watched as Twilight went back to running to the train station.
Professor Safon sat in his booth looking out the window of the train observing the landscape, noting some early city skylines in the distance. He started thinking about the similarities between this world and his own and even other worlds he’s been to. Going through some old audio recordings he found that the six ponies that helped him when he woke up had the exact same names as other beings in the first dimension he visited in 1974. He even recalled that in 1989…….
“Next Stop Ponyville! Next Stop Ponyville!!” The conductor yelled, knocking Safon out of his thoughts. Sighing, he got up and grabbed his messenger bag and the crossbow from the seat next to him and put his hat on. As the train started to stop the conductor yelled again “This is Ponyville! Ponyville! Please check the overhead compartment for any personal belongings.”
When the train doors opened he got out and took in his surroundings, noting how the train station here was fairly simple compared to the rather extravagant one in Canterlot. However that wasn’t important, he needed to find the forest and make his way from there.
As he made his way off the platform he heard a familiar voice call for him. “Professor! Professor!” He looked around to see Twilight Sparkle running towards him. “Professor there you are!” She said out of breath.
“Hello Miss Sparkle, what are you doing here?” He asked confused.
Twilight just gave him a puzzled look. “Uh I’m here to meet you at the station. The letter the Princess sent said you would be expecting me.”
He looked at her with even more confusion. “What lett….wait a second.” He said as a thought came to his head. “That fucking bitch,” He said under his breath.
“What was that?” She asked raising an eyebrow.
“Something I need to talk to Celestia about.” Safon said staying behind his words.
Realizing that nothing would get done if they started arguing Twilight just sighed. “Whatever you say.”
Safon checked his wristwatch. “Yes, Yes well anyways what is it that you’re here to help me with anyways?”
Twilight cleared her throat. “Princess Celestia thought it would be best if I was to point you in the right direction,”
“Not even going to bother help me when I get there?” Safon asked annoyed.
Sighing again Twilight looked up at Safon. “As much as I would love to help I have other responsibilities to the town but I can give you a map to the castle at my home.”
“Ok then lead the way,” Twilight just nodded and started walking into town with Safon following closely. As he followed Twilight Safon took a look at the town noticing how it was not as advanced as Canterlot was.While Canterlot had brick roads this place didn’t instead all there were where dirt roads. Also while this town did have electricity (though limited judging by the lack of lights in the houses at this early hour) it had over head wires using old telegraph poles as opposed to Canterlot’s underground wiring. “That looks a little dangerous,” He idely said.
Twilight turned her head back to him. “What?”
“Those wires up there,” He said pointing to the wires. “With about one third of your population that flies in the air overhead wires seem like a bad idea,”
“Oh that, Well I tried to tell them that a couple years ago when they were installing them but they wouldn’t listen, said it was cheaper that way,” She replied with an annoyed tone.
Safon looked up at them again. “I see.”
Eventually they got to a large tree that was hollowed out and had a small sign that read Golden Oak Library. Twilight stopped and took out her keys with her magic, “Well here we are, my home.”
“A library?”
Twilight opened the door “Yes Princess Celestia gave it to me when I moved here, that’s why I can’t help you right now I have to run this place and I don’t trust Spike to do it on his own yet, speaking of which Spike can you come down here please? We have a guest,” she yelled out as she used her magic to turn on the electric lights.
As they walked in Safon looked around the library. It was a standard small city library with many bookshelves filled with many books lining the outer walls, a large open space in the middle with a large wooden horse head in the center, tables and chairs for readers spread throughout the open space, and a door at the back wall likely leading to the living quarters. “I see you have electricity while most of the town doesn’t,” He noted looking at the primitive exposed wiring on the ceiling.
Twilight looked at him “Yeah when we got electricity in town a couple years back all public buildings had it installed first and this being a library is a public building.”
“So,” Safon began as he took a seat a one ot the tables. “How long has electricity existed here?”
“Well,” Twilight replied taking a seat across from him. “It’s been around for about twenty years now but only recently is it being taken seriously. I remember when I was a filly and my father said that electricity was nothing but a cheap parlor trick, guess what he got in the house last year,” She said chuckling to herself. “ And a couple years ago I gave a very convincing argument on why we should have it installed here.”
“I see, and now towns and cities everywhere are getting it installed...”
“Well not exactly. While all the big cities and a few moderately small towns have it there are still a few without it and even then a lot of electricity is only used for street lights, public places, and a few home that were willing to pay for it.”
“I guess I lucked out when the house Fancy Pants gave me already had it installed. If not my experiments would be screwed.”
“What exactly do you need electricity for?” Twilight asked interested.
“One I need it for basic lighting and two I’m literally punching a hole in the fabric of reality! That kind of requires a fuck ton of power!” He said jestering his hands for emphasis.
Twilight just stared at him processing what he just said. “Wait a second. ‘Punch a hole in the fabric of reality’ that sounds extremely dangerous. What if it winds up destroying the fabric of reality?!?” She asked now concerned with what could happen.
Safon gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry I’ve been doing this for over thirty years, I have been to hundreds if not thousands of other dimensions and have found no long lasting effects caused by my machine beyond a microscopic hole. On top of that I’ve found multiple of what me and my brother call ‘Natural holes.’ Which are holes in the fabric of reality that were already there with no signs of being caused by a machine like mine. So no I don’t think I’ll destroy reality.”
Twilight still had a look of uncertainty on her face but realized he had a point. “Are you sure?”
He looked her in the eye and gave her a reassuring smile. “Listen if I thought this would destroy the world I wouldn’t do it, now where is this map you spoke off?”
“Oh yes sorry about that, I have a map of the Everfree Forest in my office. Be right back,” With that Twilight got up out of the chair and headed to the living quarters.
As safon sat and waited for Twilight to return the door opened and dark red unicorn covered in a black tattered and faded cloak with an injured right eye. Loaded down with her saddlebags full of books. Levitating them into a neat stack on a table. Seeing Safon sitting there in the library hardly bothering to react to him with level any shock.
“You’re a newcomer to Ponyville I presume, hardly seen a creature such as yourself around these parts before.” The new arrival said calmly.
Momentarily surprised at her calmness, Safon got up and introduced himself. “Huh normally ponies flip out. Well besides that hello there are you here to see Twilight?”
“Yes forgive me for forgetting my manners, I’m Scarlet an investigative writer just finished up on the Legends of the Everfree Forest. Came here to personally drop off the stock of my latest books for her to sell and loan out.”
A thought occurred to Safon as he heard her words, “‘Legends of the Everfree Forest’? You wouldn’t happen to know how to transverse them would you?”
“Yes actually and most of the ruins inside of it why would you be willing to enter such a dangerous place?” Her voice showing more concern than fear.
“Well you see I have been told that some wizard from long ago had a workshop in a ruin called, ‘The Castle of the Two Sisters’ with work that could be invaluable to me.”
The door to the living quarters opened and Twilight exited levitating a map and being followed by a small dragon. Dressed in an olive tweed three piece suit with breeches instead of pants. “Professor I have the map for you.” She said before looking and seeing Scarlet there with Safon. “Oh Scarlet, I wasn’t expecting you so early. I hope the Professor here didn’t scare you to badly?”
Scarlet smiles slightly, “Not at all rather interesting that he is looking for Starswirl The Bearded’s workshop. That place illuded even my search of the ruins, are you going to accompany him to the ruins Twilight?”
“Wait you’re looking for Starswirl The Bearded’s workshop!?” She said excitedly to Safon. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve gotten someone to look after this place if I knew!”
Safon shrugged, “I didn’t even know you were going to help me. Your esteemed Princess decided to call you without me knowing.”
“She may have assumed that you figured that someone would help you on your endeavor.” Twilight replied defending her mentor.
“Yes and we all know that assuming makes an ass out of you and me.” He said with a smirk.
Confused at the saying Twilight glared at him relentlessly. “What does that even mean?!?”
“You tell me you should be the grammar Nazi here.”
Scarlet having enough of them and raised her voice, “Enough stop bickering like children. Professor if you want some help I be more than willing to aid you. If I find anything on Starswirl’s work I will bring you to it later Twilight, fair enough?”
“Aw but it’s fun bickering,” He said receiving a death glare from both of them. “Ok fine. I’ll take you up on your offer Scarlet. I’m ready whenever you are picking up the map from Twilight.”
Twilight continued her glare. “Fine, but I’ll try and find you two later in the day if I find somepony to watch the libary.”
“Sounds good Twilight,” Scarlet said before turning to Safon.“Well shall we? The Everfree Forest isn’t safe at night unless you want a scar like me we need to get moving.”
“That’s sounds like a good idea.” Safon said as he grabbed his crossbow and messenger bag.
Twilight watched as the two left before looking at Spike. “Spike would you please get me some headache elixir? I have a really bad one all of the sudden.”
“Come on just across this bridge Professor and we be able to see the ruins shortly.” Scarlet called across from an old bridge going across a seemingly endless cassem.
Safon was sweating from the extreme humidity of the forest. “Give me a second I’m not as fast as I used to be with this fucking brace on my leg.”
Scarlet yells back, “You better hope some Timberwolves aren't hungry then at your pace!”
“Fuck you! let them come I’ve faced giant monsters made of candy. I can take on whatever is lurking here.” He grumbled as he reached the bridge and started to slowly walk across.
“Then you should get a move on unless you want to be a snack for half the creatures in here. If you keep sweating you're making a dam trail for them to follow. Might as well hang a tasty treat this way sign!”Sarcastically and annoyed at his pace, she told him as he finally made it to the other side. “I don’t want to be in this place again at night a dragon calls the ruins home at night.”
“Like the one at the library?”
“That’s Spike that is a baby, the one here is much larger and the one that nearly killed me. I suggest we keep moving I will leave your ass behind if I have to.”
“I guess the breeches should have gave that away.” He said under his breath. “But if what you say is true we better hurry up and get there. I don’t know if what I have on me can take on a dragon as easily as anything else here.” He said patting his right underarm.
Scarlet sighs,“ It’s just through this fog bank then we can raid the library for any information on his workshop. After that we can just poke around the ruins bindley.”
“Great let’s get this over with.” Safon said in a more enthused tone making his way into the fog.
As they made their way through the fog they got a good look at the ruined castle. It was a large castle reminding Safon of the older castles in Europe. However this one appeared to have more damage to it then what would have occurred from just being abandoned for a thousand years likely from a rather large attack that it never got repaired from.
“Was there a large battle here or something?” He asked idly making his way through the courtyard.
Scarlet thought for a second, “There was the Lunar rebellion that hit this place hard. After the battle it was abandoned to decay as the forest began to darken and become more wild then it was before. Where there once were gentle hills, farms and villages began to become a humid dense forest with several swamps.”
Safon looked around at the damage caused by the attack, “I can see why they left. It would take to long to fix. Easier to build a whole new city then to fix an old castle, less memories there.”
She looks at him surprised at his level of knowledge, “Yes to a certain extent you see the land itself reacted to the betrayal or so the legend goes. Yet the legend of the dragon is much older when the castle fell the dragon came to guard it. They deemed it Starlight Dragon as they were only able to see it at night.”
“Well we better not waste time. I can’t outrun it at this point and I don’t know if I have enough ammo to do anything significant to hard dragon scales.”
Scarlet looked at him puzzled, “Are dragons a problem where you come from too?”
“Well no not anymore. A long time ago in my youth there were a few but let’s just say something big happened that changed quite a few things in my home.but that was a really long time ago and I don’t know how effective my more modern weapons would be.” He told her looking at the front door and opening it.
“Ok then,” She replied getting more uneasy the more he talks about more violent ways of handling the dragon.
Making their way in they looked around at the once great foyer of the castle now reduced to rubble. With many old torn tapestries, ancient flags, discarded and rusted armors, broken stainedglass windows and cobwebs everywhere.
Scarlet started to make her way down one of the corridors.“It’s just through here, be careful the ceiling is fractured and falling apart try not to get killed by a section falling.”
Walking further down the corridor they eventually reached the library filled with dusty and decaying tomes and books. Some covered in rubble and rock others ensnared in spiderwebs and dust, a large desk sits in the center of the room. With several chairs still standing despite the time they have been left to rot.
Safon made his way around the library checking his wristwatch, “Alright then we have about a couple hours before dark. Now Celestia said he used this library so that means depending on his level of laziness, his workshop should be close by so he wouldn’t have to walk that far.”
“Yes I scoured this place before, there is a few towers nearby, but the rubble maybe blocking them off or I haven't found a switch to reveal the door.” Rubbing her head slightly as she looks over a few tomes she left out to read.
“Hmm likely he would have left it relatively easy to find in case Celestia needs him,” Safon pointed out. “So perhaps that tower over there.” He said pointing at the nearest tower through a hole in the ceiling.
She nods and replies, “Then that pile of rubble is what may contain your answers of what you seek.” Levitating some tomes back onto the shelves as she turns to look if it was stable enough to be moved.
They made their way to the entrance to the tower to find it was blocked off by a rather large amount of rubble. Safon looked at this annoyed. “Great, I can see why you never found it.”
“I never thought he would have worked in a tower. I spent my time searching the lower levels for an underground workshop to no success.” Sighing in defeat as her growing annoyance nearly reaching its peak with him indirectly insulting her work.
“Well I don’t know if you know this but an underground lab is a bitch and a half to get in and out of. Being Celestia’s magical adviser he would have to be able to get to her rather quickly.” He said looking over the obstacle.
“Alright lets just get started on moving this. Hopefully this wont cause the ceiling to collapse on us.” Starting to levitate the rock at the top to see if it shifted slightly wishing it would but finding it stable. “Ok its stable lets get to work.”
Sitting there Safon watched as she slowly levitated the rubble piece by piece. Noting the pace she was going at and checking his watch he saw that this would take too long. “Alrighty then this is taking to long.” He announced reaching in his messenger bag and pulling things out.
“What are you proposing to do other then sit and watch I didn't see you helping in any way?” Looking at him as she wipes sweat off her face and away from her scars.
“Well simple.” He said putting a small amount of strange looking clay in the pile “I’m going to blow the fucking thing up.” He announced pulling out a strange device. “We may want to move.” Pointing down the corridor.
Her eyes widen, “Are you insane!?! That could bring everything down on top of us are you trying to kill us!?!”
He shrugged off her concern. “Don’t worry the castle seems sturdy enough and I’ve done this before.”
She sighs, knowing that she worked on cleaning the place up all the time and the place hasn't collapsed before. “Fine but I can teleport to the outside if it does, you’ll only be crushing yourself. Where do we need to go?”
“Eh down the hall and around the corner should do.” He replied making his way down.
Reluctantly flowing behind him, “Alright.”
Now around the corner he put some strange things in his ears and held up the device. “Oh you may want to cover your ears these explosions can be pretty loud.”
“Alright,” She yells back as she sits down putting her hooves over her ears and lowered her head.
“FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!” He yells pressing the button on the device causing the explosives to go off and creating a loud explosion with rock turning to pebbles, shrapnel, and dust.
“Well everything knows we are here now, lets hope the dragon doesn't come looking!” Yelling at him as her ears are ringing and watching the dust start to settle.
“huh I thought that would’ve been bigger,” He said idly seemingly ignoring her. “Oh well I’m going to make my way up whatever’s left of the stairs.”
“I’ll stay here I’m not feeling so good after that, just don't take too long you don't exactly move that fast grandpa.”
Looking up the tower and looking back at her. “Don’t worry I shouldn’t take that long. and don’t worry that ringing should go away in a little while.”
After about an hour of climbing his way through ruined stairs he finally made it to the top where he found an old locked oak door.
“Jackpot” He said to himself excitedly as he picked the lock with a lockpick he brought with him.
When he enters the room a strange feeling of faint disembodied voices speaking to the air almost seeming to be filled with life. Fresh candles lay with a striker nearby and several notes are neatly stacked and weighted down with books old tomes with hardly a web in the room. Several strange devices litter tables, there are with beakers, test tubes, and several decaying experimental elixirs and chemicals. Yet something was off there was fresh paper recent notes and tomes and several blood samples in sealed glass vials. Someone had been there before… and seems to work in secret, the fading sunlight sneaking through a hole in the roof.
Safon took this in and looked at the table lighting some of the candles. “Looks like our dragon friend is real after all.” He continued to look around and noticed that the walls were severely damaged and bowed outward slightly almost like there was an explosion in here. Thinking about the possibilities he heard the voices again and a thought occurred to him. “Wait a minute, how far did he get in those experiments?” He asked himself.
He reached into his messenger bag and pulled out some equipment that looked to be cobbled together from a combination of both 70’s and 80’s electronics. As he activated it and put on the headphones the voices became clearer.
“Oh, Please! What exactly do you think you’re going to do to stop me? I have magic, and you have nothing!”
“I am lord Tierk, and I will take what should have been mine long ago.”
“And Scorpan, if by midnight I do not have a fourth pony, a head will roll.”
The first voice sounded familiar but the others didn’t. However the voices themselves weren't important to him, but the fact they were there was. “Looks like he got a little further than originally thought.” With the proof that he could get home with the magic here he put the equipment down. Then started to look around for any place the original notes would be, when he spotted a chest sitting under the desk. After picking the lock on it he opened it to find an old tome with many papers added in. Skimming through it he found it to be just what he was looking for. “HA jackpot, now to find Scarlet and get the hell out of here.” He said not paying attention to the fact that it was dark outside now due to the candles lighting the room, leaving them burning.
“Hey Scarlet, I found what I needed lets hurry up and get out of here before the dragon notices I raided it’s lair.” He yelled out as he entered the library.
A response sent a chill down his spine a deep growl came from a large dark red colored blob laying in the middle of the room. Standing over him by a few feet its teal eyes snapped open just as fast as it jaws at it lunged at him.
“Oh shit!” He yelled in a panic as he quickly got out of the way and quickly getting his crossbow. Before the creature could respond he got a shot of and hit it in what appeared to be it’s wing. It’s scaled body becoming more visible in the moonlight.
It let out a roar in frustration as it swipes at his weapon with its claws trying to pin down its prey with a pounce. Using his crossbow as a shield Safon was able to get it away from him at the cost of his crossbow. With no weapon he began to run at a speed that seemed to surprise it. It roared and blasted fire at his heels and flying to chase him eventually ending up in the entryway where it cut off his escape with a wall of flames.
“So that's how you want to play?” He said to it as he reached in his coat and threw a couple throwing knives at it’s wings again causing it to fall from the sky.Roars in pain looking at the gashes and tears in its wings lunging on him pinning him down. His shoulders held tightly against the ground, as it growls ready to claim its prey’s life.
”Sorry pal I didn’t want to do this but you give me no choice.” With that he reached his left hand under his right arm and pulled out a large silver and pearl revolver. Holding it point blank to it’s chest he pulled the trigger and shot it. The beast roared loudly moving off it pry trying to run holding it wound till it collapsed mere feet from him.
Twilight having finally got Rarity to watch over the library made her way into the Forest and into the castle’s courtyard around nightfall. When she was about halfway through the courtyard she heard a loud bang followed by a dragon’s roar. Hearing this she quickly bolted into the castle to find Safon leaning over Scarlet’s body, surrounded by a small trickle of blood coming from her and forming a small puddle beneath her.
“WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!?” She yelled in great shock.
The yelling pulled Safon out of his shock and he looked over at Twilight. “Twilight good there you are, I found what I was looking for when this dragon attacked me. It eventually pinned me down, then I pulled out my gun and shot it. When it collapsed it turned into Scarlet.” He said slightly panicking.
Twilight looked over her with great concern. “Is she okay?!?”
Safon took a deep breath, “I didn’t aim anywhere important but we have to get her to a hospital now!”
“How do you expect us to get her to the hospital fast enough!?!” She yelled at him.
“You can teleport right?” She nodded, “Good then teleport us there NOW!!”
Twilight looked unsure, “I don’t know If I can I’ve never teleported more than two ponies before.”
“Just do It!” He demanded.
At his command she used her magic causing a bright flash.
Nurse Redheart was beginning to leave she said goodnight to Doctor Stable. When she got into the lobby there was suddenly a bright flash and in the aftermath was Twilight, The creature from the news and to her shock an unconscious unicorn bleeding profusely from her under her upper shoulder starting to pool beneath her as smaller trickles of blood drip from her forehooves.
“This unicorn needs help now.” Safon yelled out to her.
Redheart looked at the unicorn with shock before running back and returning with a couple helpers and a gurney. “What happened to her I’ve never seen a wound like this before?”
“No time to explain just stop the bleeding and DON’T try and remove the lead from her!!” Safon told her in a serious tone.
Nodding Redheart and the helpers took her back to the operating room.
Sighing Safon plopped into one chairs and sat in one of the waiting chairs and started to light a cigarette.
Twilight took a seat next to him and glared at him. “Now that she’s in good hooves, would you please explain to me what exactly did you do to her?!?” She demanded.
Safon knowing he had to fess up decided to tell the truth. “Well you see in my world we have no magic, so to compensate we had to develop different weapons such as a firearm which uses explosive pressure to fire a small lead projectile.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to hurt anypony!!” Twilight yelled shocked at how calmly he was putting this.
Safon got up and stomped his cigarette out. “Listen this is the last time I'm telling you, I shot her it in self-defence! She appeared to turn into a mindless dragon and attacked me. I HAD NO CHOICE! Really she’s lucky because a .44 magnum, that could have blown her head off. Now if you want to know her side ask her, but me however I got what I needed so if you need me I have to have a little chat with Celestia!” With that he left the hospital leaving Twilight alone to think about what he said and what to ask Scarlet when she recovered.
Author's Note
Collab with StarlightDragon
Twilight sat in the lobby waiting for what seemed like hours. After Safon stormed out she was left on her own to think about what he said. What if what he said was true and that Scarlet has been the Starlight Dragon all this time? If he’s telling the truth then she has a lot to answer too.
As she continued to sit there Nurse Redheart approached her and tapped Twilight’s shoulder with a hoof. “Miss Sparkle?”
Knocked out of her thoughts Twilight looked over to the source of the tapping, “ Nurse Redheart? Is she going to be ok?!?”
Redheart sighed in exhaustion. “ Well yes she’ll live, but whatever did the damage did a real good job. The chunk of lead Safon was talking about must have been traveling at a speed faster than I can imagine. It almost shattered her shoulder joint and left some nasty scorch marks where it entered. After assessing the damage we followed his instructions and stopped the bleeding, so she’s in stable condition now and is awake.”
Twilight looked toward the door leading to the patent rooms. “Can I see her?”
Redheart stood there in thought for a second before responding. “I suppose that would be alright, but be quick she needs to get some rest.”
“Thank you. I’ll try to be quick.” Twilight said as she and nurse Redheart began to walk through the double doors and down the hall to the patient quarters.
When they got to Scarlet’s room Nurse Redheart opened the door for Twilight. “As I said be quick about it.” Twilight nodded to the nurse as she entered the patient room.
With Ponyville not being as big as Canterlot instead of separate rooms for each patient there was instead large rooms that held many patients at the same time. Fortunately for Scarlet however this was one of the rare times in Ponyville where nopony was in need of a doctor enough to have to stay overnight. The patient room was a large almost hallway like room with two rows of beds, one on the left side of the room and the other on the right, some with privacy curtains and all with a nightstand for personal effects next to them. In one of the beds close to the left side was Scarlet laying down looking like she was asleep. Her bandages with visible blood stains over her right shoulder, and the cuts in her front limbs are nicely bandaged.
Twilight took a moment to calm herself at the sight of the blood and approached her speaking quietly. “Scarlet? Scarlet are you awake?”
Scarlet groaned before turned her head to the source of the noise to see Twilight standing at her bedside not looking well herself. Twilight showed clear signs of stress, her mane was beginning to become disheveled, her clothes were extremely wrinkled from not preparing them for the day and she had bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. Scarlet tried to sit up but the pain from her wound was too much for her. So she just laid there before speaking to Twilight with exhaustion in her voice. “Twilight is that you?”
Twilight looked at Scarlet and spoke softly. “Yes Scarlet it’s me. I stayed after Safon and I brought you here.”
Scarlet got a brief look of panic in her eyes, “Is he here?!?”
“What? No, no he left for Canterlot after we brought you here.”
Scarlet let out a sigh of relief at the news, “Oh good he’s extremely dangerous, I don’t know what he did to me but it sure messed me up quite a bit.”
Twilight gave her a look of shock and slightly skeptical at her statement. “What do you mean? What happened?”
Scarlet sighed as she began to tell her version of the story. “Well you see after he found Starswirl’s workshop he looked at me and pulled out a strange piece of ornate silver and pearl. Saying how now that he had what he needed, that it was time to make sure his tracks were covered. Then all I heard was a loud bang and saw smoke coming out of the silver thing. I felt a large amount of pain, glanced at its source in my shoulder and saw blood trickling out. After that I passed out and you must have found him over me.”
Twilight was now starting to get really skeptical of Scarlet’s version. “Wait a minute, I heard that bang and when I got in there as soon as Safon noticed me. He rushed me to get you proper care. Now why would he do that if he wanted to cover his tracks?”
Scarlet was starting to sweat at Twilight’s questions, “Well...um. He must have improvised at your unexpected arrival.”
“He must be able to think pretty quickly to do that and come up with a story of what happened in that short time.” Twilight said in an accusing manner.
Scarlet’s sweat was now starting to be visible as she dread the words she was about to say. “Wh... what kind of story?”
“Well you see when I got there he was speaking quite fast but still coherent, and he told me how you’ve apparently transformed into a dragon of some kind.” Scarlet’s pupils constricted at what she heard. Noticing this Twilight took a hoof to her tie and started to loosen it. “Scarlet have I told you the story of how when my friends and I went out to find the Elements of Harmony? How a red dragon with a silver underside attacked us shortly after entering the Everfree Forest? In fact I believe it was the Starlight Dragon herself defending her home from intruders.”
Scarlet was now getting really uncomfortable at what Twilight was saying shifting slightly on the bed. “N...no I’ve h... heard how you had to face many c...challenges to get there.”
“Well you see as we were getting attacked by it I noticed a distinctive set of scars over it’s right eye. Now who do I know with scars like that?” She asked looking at the three diagonal scratches over the others right eyelid. “Actully did you know your book is one of if not the most detailed telling of the legend of the Starlight Dragon? In fact it’s more detailed than a lot of the books in the Canterlot University's Library. Now how could somepony who's been in isolation for so long, have such knowledge that somepony who’s dedicated their life to such fields lack?”
“Fine you’ve got me I’ve been tracking and watching the Starlight Dragon for years!!!” Scarlet yelled out trying desperately to stop Twilight.
Sighing Twilight looked at her, “No! The information you’ve put in your book is more detailed than simple observations. That kind of detail of somepony’s life is only seen in an autobiography!!!”
“I found her notes, I found her little makeshift home… I…I can take you there!” Getting more desperate and scared as Twilight refused to leave it lie.
“She just happened to leave a little note detailing all the agony she’s felt throughout her life? Listen Scarlet you’re my friend and I want to help, but I can’t help you if you keep lying to me!!”
She looks away and puts her left hoof over her right, her voice hovering on the edge of tears. “How would you expect me to feel Twilight, like I should be able to trust you with my darkest secret? I tried to make the past go away I tried to cure the beast that I once was. Despite how hard I tried it always came back to hurt me. Everything I try, everything I do seems to want me to suffer. You’re not making this any easier by shouting at me… you're right ok. Is that what you want from me a confession?! You’re friends with a freak that attacks ponies. You figured out the puzzle I’m the cursed dragon pony in the legends, Im Starlight. Congratulations are you quite happy now, after making me more miserable than I already was!?” She yelled out in anger and sadness finally succumbing to her tears.
Twilight looked at her sobbing friend and knew she went too far. “Scarlet? Scarlet I’m sorry I didn’t mean to push you so far. Listen I just want to help.”
“How did you think this was helping me in any way?” Managing to barely speak muffled by her tears. “ You stood there accusing, analyzing me and spitting my attempts to get you to stop back in my face. I have had to live a lie for so long to find this peace make myself into a complete other pony. Change my name, change my cutie mark to have a somewhat normal life. Now it’s falling apart around me and all I can do is watch and try to pick up the pieces.”
“Scarlet listen, Safon and I are the only ones who know about this. The doctor and Nurse Redheart don’t suspect a thing. Now I can help you, you just need to let me.” Twilight said putting on a reassuring smile for her friend.
“There isn’t anything you can really do, I’ve been cursed just like the book said. I screwed myself over when I wrote that dam thing, I never thought I would turn back into that creature again. I thought the potion I made cured me, not even two weeks later it was over. I became Starlight again like a slap in the face. I live a lie by hiding in plain sight, how long before someone else pieces things together Twilight? The peace the calm I know, shattered the moment someone else does the same thing you did.”
“Scarlet this isn’t a thousand years ago the world you knew is gone, a lot has changed in all that time. Just a few years ago a biologist in Prance released the Germ Theory in an article. Now with that kind of information all kinds of new medicines are being made, and unicorns are discovering all kinds of new magic with electricity! All that with the arrival of Safon, bringing Celestia knows what with him. Just think of the possibilities we maybe able to find something to help you now!!” Twilight exclaimed trying to cheer Scarlet up.
“Despite how much I hate to admit it I can’t, I’m only alive because of my blood being... special. The fact I have dragon blood is the only reason I’m still alive after all this time. I can't be cured, not to the extent I would have wanted. I have to live this way and try to keep from hurting the ponies I care about. You really want to help me Twilight? Do your best to forget this ever happened, look at me no differently than your other friends.”
Twilight looked at her depressed friend not intending to give up. “Scarlet you should know that there is not just one solution to any problem. I think that we could do something great here.”
“How by letting you do the same thing I’ve been doing trying to cure myself all these years? I accept myself the way I am, the world doesn’t and I like it that way right now. This Safon thing has made me sure of one fact if I did go public. I would be treated differently like some circus act and be all over the news.”
Twilight looked at her with a plan in her head, “I never said to go public.”
“I don’t want anymore attention then what I'm getting as a writer! I want to have a normal life is that not clear to you? You’ve done enough damage and tormented me with painful memories. Holding her head looking weaker, “please… just let me sleep you’ve pushed me far enough already. Im far older than you your not my mother, so please just leave and take your ideas with you.”
Princess Celestia made her way up to her quarters for the night. After hearing rumors that Safon was back in the city today, so at that news she stayed in her throne room all day expecting him to come and report his findings. However she sat waiting so long nightfall came and it was Luna’s time to take over. After some convincing on Luna’s part she decided that perhaps it was just a rumor and decided to go to bed for the night. Nodding to her guards as she stepped into her room to be greeted to the smell of tobacco.
“Hello Celestia.” A voice said. Jumping Celestia used her magic and turned on the lights in the room to find Safon sitting in the sitting area dressed in black pants and a black hoodie over his usual black shirt and pointing his ornate silver and pearl revolver at her.
“Safon! What are you doing here!?!” Celestia said in shock as she got ready to call the guards.
Still pointing the revolver at her he smirked. “Don’t bother calling them. They should pass out here soon.” He chuckled. “You know having the same guards at the same place every night is not such a good idea. It makes a repeat intruder's job that much easier.”
Looking at the revolver she let out a nervous chuckle. “And you think throwing a piece of silver at me will do anything. I’m not a warepony,” she bluffed.
Laughing a bit Safon looked at her, “Oh no, I won’t throw this. In fact, it will throw something at you. You see what I’m holding is a .44 magnum revolver, once said by a great man to be the most powerful handgun in the world. Now while it no longer holds that record it still has the ability to blow one’s head clean off. So do ya feel lucky?”
Looking at him Celestia sat down in the chair across from him. “So is there a particular reason you decided to come here and threaten my life?”
Still keeping the revolver aimed at her he started to retell what happened. “Well you see when I got to the castle like you said. I searched for and located the workshop and Starswirl’s notes. After I’ve found them I was attacked by a rather ferocious dragon. Now I don’t recall you telling me about a dragon living in the ruins.”
“This is a ruin that I have not visited it myself in a long time. I had no idea a dragon was calling it home.”
“True but before I made my way to the forest a couple ponies including your personal student warned me about this ‘Starlight Dragon.’ Now why would you omit such a well known tale before sending me there.”
“Because Starlight died long ago, this tale you heard was a rumor, but it seems something was in fact there. Yet now it seems you handled it rather well, what of your research did you find what you sought?”
“That not important right now. What’s important is to clear the air. I know you don’t trust me. From how you wanted me locked up to how you have agents keeping tabs on me. Oh by the way tell them all black doesn’t blend in a crowd.”
Looking at the revolver Celestia gave him a questioning look. “And you think pointing a deadly weapon at me helps that image.”
“Fair enough.” and with that Safon opened the cylinder and let the bullets drop on the floor before putting the revolver on the table. “Listen I don’t intend to kill you. I believe you have the best intentions for you kingdom at heart. When I ask a pony about you they have nothing but kind words without a hint of fear in them. In fact I’m willing to let all the trust issues go and start over fresh.”
Giving him a stern look Celestia got up from her chair. “And the weapon was for?”
Getting up with her Safon looked her right in the eye. “The gun was to make a point. While I don’t think you tried to get me killed. I want to make one thing clear. DON’T try anything on me!! I understand you want all your ponies to be safe but I ain’t a threat and if you try to have me killed I WILL end you and your kingdom faster than any invasion ever could!!!”
Now getting slightly fearful Celestia approach him. “And what makes you think I’m afraid of you?”
Smirking Safon looked at her. “Oh nothing. Besides that fact that you appear to know about me.” Celestia eyebrows rose at that statement. “I can see it. I’ve become known in the multiverse at this point and I think you have heard rumors of me among other powerful creatures telling stories of how every. single. person to try and cross me have meet with a nasty fate. You're just exercising caution and I don’t blame you. Just let me be and I’ll be on my way as quickly as possible.”
Sighing Celestia continued to look at him straight in his eyes. “Very well yes I’ve heard about you through a very wise old creature a thousand years ago. It spoke of how you like to explore and will stop at nothing to end anything that tries to do you wrong. I wanted to be sure you didn’t do anything to harm my citizens they mean everything to me and my sister.”
Also sighing Safon looked down. “Again I believe you. Listen I just want to go home to my family. Let me do my thing and I’ll be on my way. Is that fair?”
Backing up Celestia knew he wasn’t lying. “Very well but I will be keeping a close eye on your activities.”
Looking back up Safon took a seat again. “Fair enough and now that we have an understanding I need to be on my way.” With that he picked up the bullets off the floor put the in his pocket and picked up his revolver. “Oh and if you do require any of my services I’ll be more than happy to provide.” With that he got up and left through the door leaving Celestia to wonder over what he said.
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
“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.
“Alright here we are.” Safon said as he opened the door to his house and let Trinity in.
“This is where I’m going to live?” Trinity asked unsure as she looked around the entrance hall.
“Yeah,” Safon said as he untied his bow tie, “There’s a spare bedroom upstairs for you to use.” He said gesturing the stairs to the side, “Listen it’s almost midnight. I’m going to do a few things down here but you should go to bed I’ll fill you in on everything tomorrow morning. The locked door is my room ok.”
Trinity was still unsure of how a food run has changed her life so quickly. However he was right and she was getting tired. “Ok sir,” she said nervously.
Safon noting her nervousness knelt down to her level and gave her a reassuring smile. “I know this is all so sudden but I want you to know I’m not going to hurt you. Fortune smiled on you tonight through my need of someone to help me okay?”
Trinity nodded still nervous, “Yes sir I understand.”
Sighing Safon looked at his wristwatch, “Ok we’ll have to work on that,” he said under his breath. “Alright you go upstairs and try to get some sleep, We’ll try and get things started tomorrow morning,”
“Yes sir,” Trinity nodded as she started heading upstairs.
“Oh and Trinity,” Safon said as she got to the top of the stairs.
“Yes,” She asked.
“You don’t have to call me Sir, Professor is fine,” He said winking.
“Yes Professor,” She said as she searched for a room.
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Trinity awoke the next morning to the sound of a quartet singing from a phonograph. She looked around and found that she was in a real bed, confirming that last night wasn’t a dream and that she was still in Safon's house.
She sat in the bed thinking about what happened. She'd been stealing food for years just to survive and in all that time she has been looked down on. Rat, urchin, and worthless, those were all things ponies have called her for as long a she remembers. Last night though Safon and Fancy Pants showed her the first acts of kindness towards her in a long time and she didn’t know how to feel. On one hoof here was this strange creature offering her a home, food and a job. Yet on the other hoof she didn’t know if he was being truthful about letting her live with him. She really wanted this to be true but she’s been burnt too many times to truly believe it. Deciding to face the music she got up out of the bed and went downstairs.
[youtube=https://youtu.be/4ppDRxO0irk?t=25s]
She entered the living room and saw the phonograph playing another record. Using her magic she levitated one of the records and attempted to read it but couldn’t because to the language barrier. Instead she looked at the label with a picture of a dog listening to a phonograph and wondered where it came from. The language on the label was different but the quartet was clearly singing in equine.
However she was interrupted by her thoughts by Safon entering the room dressed in his tan tartan pants and blue paisley shirt holding a bowl of steaming oatmeal.
“Good morning,” He said when he noticed Trinity. “ Did you sleep well last night?” He asked as he sat down in a chair.
“Yes I did. It’s been awhile since I’ve slept in an actual bed.” Trinity said looking down to avoid looking at him, shifting her stance slightly away from him.
“I'd imagine,” Safon said as he started eating his oatmeal, “I’m thinking that after we’ve eaten I’ll give you a rundown of what we’re doing and start as soon as possible. I have to kick things into high gear now.”
“You mean this is real?” Trinity asked after a long pause of silence from her.
“What?” Safon asked in slight confusion thinking he knew the reply, yet gave her the chance to answer.
“This!!” She exploded, “ I’m talking about this! Ponies have been calling me worthless for years and now all of the sudden you come along giving me a job like I’m worth something. If this a joke please just deliver the punch line,” She finished sobbing.
Safon took a deep breath, “Trinity.I know how you feel.”
“H...ow cou…ld you? H….ow could yo...u possibly know?!?” She shouted with tears in her eyes.
“Because,” He started putting his oatmeal down on the table. “ I was in a similar situation as you.”
“Y...ou were?!?” Trinity asked with wide eyes.
“Yes,” He said as he approached her, “ You see like you I was born at the end of an era and the start of a new one. The empire I was born in was collapsing from invading barbarians from east and interior means. During all that my parents were merchants on the silk road, a large trading route to the east. They would travel in caravans from Constantinople all the way to Beijing, because it was such a long trip me and my brother Augustus were part of the caravans. However on such trip when my brother and I were nine we were attacked by highwaymen. We were just a days travel from Constantinople and just made camp when they attacked. They came in and started killing everyone. My mother hid me and Augustus under one of the rock formations nearby . When the attack was done Augustus and I were the only survivors and what ever the bandits didn’t steal was set on fire.”
“What happened after that?” Trinity asked with her full attention to Safon’s story.
Safon cleared his throat, “Well after that Augustus and I trekked across the desert and eventually made it to Constantinople exhausted and starving. However we weren’t in the clear. When we got back we couldn’t prove we were who we were and we were forced to live on the streets for three years before an old noble found us. He didn’t have children of his own and saw potential in both of us. So he took us in and when he passed away he left us his fortune.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Trinity asked.
“Because like that noble I see potential in you.” He started, “From what I’ve gathered those ‘cutie marks’ you all have show your special talent and you,” He said gesturing her blank flank, “ Don’t have one yet which is unusual at your age isn’t it?”
“Ye...yes,” She replied ashamed.
“It’s ok you just haven’t found what you’re good at. It’s hard to find what you’re good at when you have to scavenge for food everyday. Perhaps a good home to live in will help you find it.” Safon said giving her some hope.
“Do you really think so?” Trinity asked slightly hopeful.
“I think so.” He simply stated.
“And all I have to do is help you?”
“That’s it,”
Trinity sat there in thought as Safon waited for her response. She looked back up to him, “Alright I’ll do it.”
Safon smiled at the news, “Wonderful. Now lets get you something to eat and I’ll start to fill you in on what I’m doing here.” He said as he gestured her towards the kitchen to get some oatmeal.
After getting Trinity a bowl of oatmeal Safon brought one of the chalkboards into the living room. On it were various color photos of varying quality and a crude drawing of a machine with a shaded shape in the center.
“Ok,” Safon began pointing a fireplace poker at a particular grainy photo of him looking unkempt with dirty long hair and beard. Wearing a dingy brown three piece suit in front of a large machine made from scrap metal. “In July 1974 my time just outside of Portland Oregon me, my brother and my friend Bill pierced a hole in the fabric of reality and made contact with another dimension, Then by 1977,” He started as he pointed to another cleaner looking photo. However in this photo he looked a lot cleaner with his hair neatly parted, beard trimmed and dressed in a grey crewneck sweater with the black plaid pants he favors. “ We managed to get better understanding of how to traverse the multiverse.”
He took a break and took a drink out of a glass of whiskey he had on the table, “We were so good that we managed to control where we went. After an... incident in 79 I had to take some time off from the machine, to teach in the University of San Diego in California until 1984. While there however I figured out how to build a more stable and compact machine. So after that I moved shop over to Japan.” He said as he pointed to a less grainy photo of him in his light grey suit standing in front of his ship. With a women dressed in faded blue jeans and pale blue sweater standing next to him. “There I served as an on call nuclear technician, while I created a new machine that I could place inside my ship and use to fly my ship to other dimensions. Now twenty years later my machine in my ship malfunctions and sends me to a dimension it detected here.” He finished as he looked a Trinity looking at the photos, “Any questions?”
“Yes, Are those paintings?” Trinity asked looking at one of the photos.
“No,” He said confused at the question, “They’re photos Augustus took as we worked.”
“But they’re in color. How is that possible?” Trinity asked interested.
Safon facepalmed, “ I’m talking about tearing a hole in the fucking fabric of reality and you’re asking about something as trivial as color photographs!”
“Sorry I was just curious,” Trinity responded.
Safon sighed, “ It’s fine lets just say we’ve had many advances in photography in my world ok,”
“Alright, but why are you telling me this?” She asked scratching her head.
“Because,” He began, “If you know what I’m doing you’ll be better help to me,”
Trinity gave him a blank look, “I guess.”
“Don’t worry you’ll be fine,” He said reassuring her, “ Besides I have to get more funding first and we’re going to work on that through good old fashioned patton loopholing.”
“Huh?” She asked confused at the phrase.
Safon looked at her and gave a deadpan response, “ Basicly I’m going to build the movie camera Flim and Flam won’t sell me and change a few things so they can’t sue me. Now it looked like the Edison design so it won’t be hard to reconstruct,” He then walked back to the dining room turned lab with Trinity following him. He walked over to the desk and pulled out some design paper and a quill, “ Hopefully this won’t take too long. My talk with a couple generals last night showed me that there’s a war brewing in Snider’s Grocery Store and I need to get the hell out of here before it happens.”
“What does that mean?” Trinity asked with concern in her voice.
“What I mean is,” He started turning towards her, “That there is a powder keg of countries just ready to go off and if I’m still here they’re all going to try to get me involved.”
“Oh my,”
“Yes and we’re going to have to be careful if we want to avoid that. I’ve already had an offer from the Changeling Kingdom and the others may not be too …” A knock at the front door interrupted him. “Trinity can you get that?”
“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 it was grayish blue with different symbols on the coat.
General Four Star took off his hat, “Hello little filly I am General Four Star and this is General Spitfire. We were wondering if the Professor was home this morning?”
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.
It was early morning with the sun just rising where Professor Safon and Trinity were walking in the woods following the trail caused by Safon’s saucer just two months ago. It’s been a month since Trinity moved in with Safon, and in that month he has been giving her basic lessons on atoms and nuclear physics. As she sat and listened to his lessons she found it to actually be fascinating. The fact that every thing in the universe was actually made of tiny particles she couldn’t see amazed her and she asked many questions much to Safon’s surprise. While she wasn’t sure about helping him at first, she now couldn’t wait to really help him and learn all kinds of things about the universe.
Safon himself was surprised in how quickly she grasped the concepts and he figured it was now time to start the groundwork of building a new machine.
“So what are we coming out here for Professor.” Trinity asked with interest.
Safon looked over to her as he still walked down the trail. “ Well we’re going to my ship and pick up some equipment I left in there.”
“What kind of equipment?” She inquired.
“We’re going to have to build a power supply and nuclear power is the only thing I’ve found to supply enough power to my machine. That and also I need to get my laptop. There are all kinds of information I have saved on there that I can show you.”
Trinity’s eyes grew wide at this news. “ You mean we’re going to start soon?!?”
Safon chuckled at her enthusiasm. “ Well not yet exactly. I need to get in touch with someone about uranium, and we need to get a radiation suit made for you.”
“ To protect me from the alpha and beta rays right?” She asked testing her knowledge.
“That’s right.” Safon said impressed with her memory. “They can really mess you up and give you cancer, and we don’t want that.”
Trinity though back to Safon’s description of the radium girls and the fate of Marrie Currie and nodded in agreement. “Yeah I don’t want that.”
They eventually reached the crash site, still being guarded to keep nosey ponies away. The saucer itself looked the same as it did last time Safon got stuff from it. As he approached it he looked over to Trinity.
“Alright I’m going to climb in there and grab stuff. Just stay there and I’ll be right back.”
Trinity nodded and Safon nodded back before he started to climb in through the top.
As she waited for Safon to return she looked at the saucer. Safon has told her how when it was working it was able to fly across the world in a few hours. She didn’t believe him however. After all how, can a machine go that fast, but now that she was here looking at it she was starting to think he was telling the truth. She really has never seen anything like it before. That has been a theme for Safon though; he has shown her things that she couldn’t believe could exist, things like a large airship that can travel very fast, or his plans for a self-moving carriage.
“Ok Trinity. I got my stuff.” Safon’s voice came in knocking Trinity out of her thoughts.
She looked up to Safon to see him on top holding a leather duffle bag in his right hand and a laptop under his right arm. “Is that the laptop thing you were talking about.”? She asked pointing to said laptop.
He looked at the laptop under his arm. “Yeah, this machine here is able to process information a lot faster than you or I. That processing power will be used to enter the extremely long algorithm that is needed to focus the portal to a precise dimension.”
Her eyes grew wide in amazement at the idea. “Oh my.”
He chuckled a bit. “Yeah I’ll be damned if I’m going to wander through random dimensions trying to find my way home.”
“What do you mean by that?” She asked as he climbed off the saucer.
“Well remember what I said about my first machine not being up to stuff?” He said starting to walk back to Canterlot.
Trinity started following. “Yes.”
“Well let’s just say I wasn’t in the right state of mind when I first used it and I entered it without a way back.”
“How did you ever get back.”? Trinity asked with extreme interest.
“I had to find small tears in the fabric of reality that were weak enough for me to exploit and use as a random version of my machine. It took me years to get home.” He said irritably.
Trinity took note of his irritants at the memory. “I… can see why you don’t want to do that.”
Safon took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m just glad I’ve learned my lesson. Now lets get home, I have a journal to go though.”
Safon opened the front door of his house and walked in, taking his coat and hat off as he did. “Trinity can you put a record on please?”
Trinity levitated her hat on the hat rack. “Sure. What do you want?” She asked making her way into the parlor as Safon went to the kitchen.
Safon thought a moment as he scratched the newly forming beard on his chin. “Hmm…. How about ‘Shine on Harvest Moon’ the Billy Murray version.”
“Okay.” She said levitating the translation sheet Safon gave her out of her pocket. While different when written down, Equine and Engish were close enough that Safon was able to make a translation sheet for Trinity to help her understand the stuff Safon would write down.
Squinting her eyes to read the record labels she went through the pile until she found the record Safon wanted. Taking the record to the phonograph she placed it on the pre-wound turntable turned it on and put the needle on the record.
As the music started filling the room Safon came in holding a glass of whiskey in one hand, a lit cigarette in the other and the duffle bag over his shoulder. “Thank you Trinity.” He said idly as he sat his drinks down on the coffee table. Sitting down on the parlor sofa he put the duffel bag on the floor in front of him unzipping the top.
He went thought the contents and set them on the table. “Lets see here Geiger counter, cassettes with audio notes on them, cassette player, microphone for player and the radiation suit.”
As Safon laid the stuff on the table Trinity looked at Geiger counter knowing what it did but not why they needed it. “ Why do we need a Geiger counter? Didn’t you say it’s easy to buy uranium in this day and age?”
Focusing more on inspecting his radiation suit Safon glanced at her out of the corner of his eye in acknowledgement. “ Yes I can but We have to contain the radiation it gives off, and to know it’s contained we need a Geiger counter to make sure.”
“Oh,” Trinity said as she looked at the device. It was just like the pictures Safon showed her. It was a simple rusty olive green metal box with a meter on top and a rod connected to the box by a wire.
Trinity then looked over to Safon as he was still inspecting the suit. Safon told her about this radiation suit. He had it custom made out of tough lead lined fabric to prevent accidental tearing, a belt with many pouches, hoses leading from a filter in the back and a reinforced glass helmet to allow maximum viewing.
Finished inspecting it Safon put it down on the table. “ Looks like it’s still intact.” He said taking a drink from his glass and laughed lightly. “ And the military said that they doubted its durability. Look what survived a crash at 53 years old you pricks!!” He yelled to no one.
Trinity took a step back with concern. “Dare I ask?”
Snapping out of his anger he looked over to Trinity realizing the lack of context. “ Oh yeah I forgot to tell you. Long story short the radiation suits they used back in 53 were flimsy and tore easily. So I designed a tougher one, but they didn’t believe my design would work. That and also I was blacklisted before I could show test results.” Saying the last part unintentionally
That last part caught her attention. “ Blacklisted?”
Safon realized what he said and knew she wouldn’t let it go. She was too curious sometimes. “ Yeah…. Long story short a man named Joseph Mccarthy ruined many intelligent and famous people’s lives by feeding the paranoia of the American people.”
“Why would he do that?” Trinity asked. She’s heard about wealthy ponies running poorer ponies lives but not much about wealthy ponies ruining the lives other wealthy ponies.
He sighed in anger, remembering the vile man. “He wanted to further his career by accusing people of being communist spies. Unfortunately for me questioning the military’s ‘MAD’ strategy constitutes as being a communist. I was then discharged from the military and blacklisted from all forms of atomic research both private and military. On top of that the CIA has
“What does ‘MAD’ mean?” Trinity pressed happy she was getting something from him. Ever since he started teaching her she’s been getting a feeling that he’s been keeping information from her. From him not going into detail on his work for the ‘Manhattan Project’ to what exactly his military wanted with nuclear physics. She was really enjoying learning about it but she felt he wasn’t giving all the information.
“Well you see….MAD is short for…..” He started nervously before a convenient knock at the door. Sighing in relief at the interruption he nodded his head towards the direction of the front door. “Sounds like we have a guest.” He said turning back to Trinity. “How ‘bout I tell you later, when we have more time?”
Sighing at the interruption she decided to accept it and wait till he forgot and catch him off guard. “Yes Professor.”
She headed into the entry hall and opened the front door too annoyed to pay attention to the fact it was Chamberlain at the door. “Safon Laboratories. How can I help you?”
Ignoring her rudeness Chamberlain tipped his bowler hat to her.
“Hello Miss Trinity. How are you doing this morning?”
“Oh! Sorry Chamberlain. I was a little MAD at something else.” She said embarrassed.
Chamberlain chuckled. “ Oh don’t worry about that Miss Trinity.”
“If you say so.” Trinity responded unsure.
Moving on Chamberlain cleared his throat. “ Yes well anyways is the Professor home right now? I have a message from Fancy Pants to relay.”
“Yes he’s in the parlor.” She said gesturing him inside. “ Do you want me to take your hat?”
“ No thank you Miss. I shouldn’t be long.” He told her as he followed her inside to the parlor.
The two walking into the parlor to find Safon changing the record on the phonograph, before noticing the two out of the corner of his eye. “ Chamberlain! How have you been?” He asked getting up to meet the butler.
“Oh I’ve been fine and you?” Chamberlain asked his hat in hoof.
“Eh, We’ve been fine, making progress on planning and are starting to gather materials.”
The butler nodded. “ Good, good. Now while I would love to exchange pleasantries a bit longer I have a message from Fancy Pants.”
That got Safon’s attention. “ You do! Why didn’t you open with that?!”
Chamberlain raised a hoof to begin a response, but was interrupted by Safon.
“Never mind. I haven’t heard from him for a month. So did he get the airship built?”
The butler nodded to Safon’s question. “ Yes, he’s putting the finishing touches on as we speak and will be doing test flights tomorrow.” Safon got excited at this news. “Great! So now what?”
“ Now Fancy Pants plans to put on a show for both the military and his investors. In two weeks he’s going to show off the large and small models at the Wonderbolt stadium to give everypony a practical demonstration.”
Even more excited Safon hugged Chamberlain. “ Chamberlain that’s the best news I’ve gotten in a long time.”
After being realized Chamberlain straightened his bow tie and checked the time on his fob watch. “ Yes. Now I must make haste and contact both the military and investors.”
Safon nodded and lead Chamberlain to the front door. “ Ok. I’ll get my suit ready for the show. and again thank you for the news.”
Chamberlain put his hat back on and started to leave the house. “ I’ll be sure to get more details to you as soon as possible.” With that the butler quickly made his way down the street likely to the nearest telegraph office.
After watching Chamberlain leave Safon turned to Trinity. “Trinity we’re going out to eat tonight. My treat.”
After two weeks of preparation the time has come for Fancy Pants to show Safon’s airship design to the world. There was both big brass from the military and investors for Fancy Pants Industries were all gathered in the VIP both of the Wonderbolts stadium for a private showing of the airships.
Safon and Trinity were both sitting at a table in the corner out of the way. Safon dressed in his gray suit with the jacket over the back of his chair and Trinity dressed in a beige skirt with a white dress blouse with a banker collar and a red and pink floral tie. They were looking at Fleur De Lis who was on the phone with Fancy Pants. She spoke on the phone for a few more minutes before hanging up and heading to the pair.
Trinity was the first to speak up knowing what this event could mean for her. “ So. What’s going on?”
Fleur sat down at the table with the two.
“Fancy plans on piloting the smaller craft himself while an earthpony engineer pilots the larger one to show that they can be flown by anypony. After flying around a bit to show speed and maneuverability he’ll land them near by to allow for tours of the interior to show how they work. If this goes right and the military like them you’ll make royalties off of the patents.”
Safon leaned back in his chair confidently. “That sounds like a plan and the civilian ones will be icing on the cake.”
“Right.” Fleur responded.
As the three sat at their table a stallion's voice called out to Fleur.
“Fleur dear there you are!”
Knowing whom it was she turned around to find Hoity Toity approaching. “Hoity! It’s been so long.”
“Indeed it has been.” Hoity said before noticing Safon. “And you must be Professor Safon. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
“Well I’m afraid I have the disadvantage of not knowing about you.” Safon replied.
“Professor.” Fleur stated. “This is Hoity Toity, editor and chief of the most popular fashion magazine in the world and a long time friend.”
“I See.” Safon said before turning back to Hoity Toity. “Well it’s nice to meet you too. I would get up to shake your hoof but I’m afraid my leg brace locked up on me.” He said pointing to the metal brace on his right leg.
Hoity and Fleur got a look of worry across their faces. “Oh dear I hope your ok.” Hoity said.
Safon shrugged it off. “Don’t worry this thing does it all the time.”
Trinity however wasn’t buying it and was getting a look of horror across her face thinking she’s failed at her job of making sure Safon didn’t hurt himself
“Professor!!! Didn’t you bring your oil can with you to prevent this?!?!”
“No I thought you brought it.” Safon said not really caring.
Trinity got even more panicked. “How can you be so calm about this!?! You can’t get up now!!!”
Safon sighed. “Trinity you’re overreacting. This damn thing locks up all the time.”
“That means you should always have an oil can on you!”
As the two continued to argue Fleur and Hoity looked at each other.
“Perhaps we should leave the two alone.” Hoity offered.
Fleur nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.”
They left Safon and Trinity to go mingle with the other guests to this event.
The small party continued with ponies chatting among each other, until Chamberlain went over to the main refreshment table and dinged a spoon to a wine glass to get everyone's attention.
He cleared his throat and began to speak up for everyone to hear.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, Investors, military and friends. On behalf of Fancy Pants I want to welcome you all for coming to this demonstration.” He began. “As I speak Fancy Pants and his head engineer Miss Static Lift are flying two crafts from the airship yard to this location. When they get here they will show how they can travel a lot faster than most conventional airships. Afterwards they will land for you to get a first hoof look at them.”
As he finished talking the loud hums of two engines started to come in. Everyone then went to the edge of the both to look towards the cliff side to suddenly see two airships poking out from around the corner of the cliff.
They looked more refined than the prototype Safon showed Fancy Pants two months ago, both in looking like a finished product with proper engines unlike the boat engines Safon originally used in the prototype, and actually being decorated with his company logo on the smaller one and the Equestrian coat of hooves on the large one.
Everyone watched as the two showed off their speed traveling much faster than any other craft they’ve ever seen, making the corner in record time and to the stadium even faster. Soon they were getting to a stop right at the edge of the entrance trail to the stadium seats. After they stopped the doors on them opened and Fancy Pants and Static Lift came into view taking wooden boards and using them as bridges to solid land.
Everyone was impressed at what they saw and were talking among each other about the crafts before Chamberlain got their attention again.
“Yes they are very impressive crafts, but I must ask for your attention please.” He asked, as everyone got quiet. “Thank you. Now Fancy Pants and Static Lift will take anypony willing on a short flight to show you first hoof the capabilities of the crafts.” With that he gestured the entrance everyone quickly started to file out the airships.
“Come on Professor we need to hurry up or we’ll miss it.” Trinity said looking at the long line of ponies.
Yeah I know give me a second.” Safon replied looking at his leg brace trying to unlock it. After no success he just hit it causing him great pain but it did manage to get it loose enough for him to be able to move it. “Ok there we go. Now lets hurry up.” He said getting up and limping towards the line with the brace squeaking as he moved.
Eventually the two made it down to where the airships were temporarily docked. Safon quickly approached Fancy Pants, who was speaking to General Spitfire. She spotted the Professor approaching and turned towards him.
“Ah Professor there you are!” She began. “I must say I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen so far.”
“Yes in fact she’s told me that if the first hoof view is as good as it was from the booth, then she’ll quickly get a contract set up for us to be the providers of these craft for the Royal Air Force.” Fancy Pants added giddy at the thought.
Safon was taken aback at the news. “Wow I don’t know what to say. Thank you!”
“No Thank you Professor. This will give us an ace against any Griffin attack.” Spitfire said not noticing how uneasy both Safon and Fancy Pants got at the reminder of the tension in the world.
“Yes. Now how about I show you around General.” Fancy Pants said changing the subject.
“Thank you Fancy Pants.” Spitfire replied as she followed him into the airship leaving Safon and Trinity.
“Are you ok Professor?” Trinity asked looking at Safon who was spaced out.
“What.” He said coming to before looking at Trinity. “Oh yes I’m fine just getting Deja vu. That’s all.” He replied still uneasy about the mess he’s found himself in.
It was now November in the land of Equestria, meaning that Safon has been trapped there for six months. After the demonstration of the airships ponies from the military and nobles have been requesting them, with Fancy Pants barely able to keep up with the demand. Thanks to that Safon has been getting royalties from each of them as per his contract with Fancy Pants for his inventions he provided.
Thanks to this new found money Safon has been able to procure some parts to be delivered so he can finally start building his machine starting with some steel to start building the base parts. Along with some heavy duty power wires and he’s even started to get in touch with some scientist from Prance about getting some uranium to power the machine. Not only that he has even had enough money to start buying things for himself and Trinity. Including an new floor model phonograph on wheels so he can wheel it from the parlor to his lab, an icebox for their food, a telephone, some updated wiring that put electrical outlets in the house and most importantly a workshop in the industrial section of the city so they can work on inventions away from the lab in the house. This workshop was where Safon and Trinity were at now at about midday.
“Professor I think I got the engine connected to the wheels now.” Trinity said as she used her magic to take a cloth to wipe the oil off her fur.
“You did?” Safon replied as he turned from the workbench he was working at. He went over to the middle of the room to their current project a Quadricycle. As he got closer he looked around it checking the engine, the steering wheel, gear shift and wheels. “Well I’ll be damned it looks like you did get them connected.” He told her impressed with the work. For the past few months Trinity has really shown some great promise, from her being able to grasp nuclear physics at an impressive level too her being able to help him with the construction of the quadricycle.
“Thank you!” Trinity said beaming. She really enjoyed learning all the stuff Safon had to teach her. Along with that she also enjoyed helping him with the more hooves on stuff, when she’s not preventing him from almost killing himself in the process. While she was still convened he was hiding stuff from her she still was proud of herself and what she was doing.
Safon looked at his wristwatch. “Looks like it’s about lunchtime now.” He thought for a second looking at the quadricycle. “I think we should get something to eat first then we take it out for a test drive. What do you think?”
Trinity’s stomach growled at the thought of food, “I think that’s a good idea.”
“Great!” Safon said grabbing a coffee mug that had an image of a beach with the words ‘Beach City’ across it off the workbench and putting on his dark grey tweed frock coat, it was getting cold now and Safon really hated it. “I think I saw an automat down the road. We can get a sandwich or something and I can get a cup of coffee.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Trinity said putting on her tan overcoat and opening the door to the outside, freezing in place as she did so.
“Hey Trinity why are you stopping?” He asked as he adjusted the red necktie he had on. He approached her to see why she stopped and stopped himself when he saw what was just out the door, Princess Luna.
Princess Luna stood outside the door looking like she was about to knock on the door. When Trinity got back to her senses she quickly bowed down to her. “Princess Luna. It’s such an honor to have you visit us.”
Luna chuckled. “You don’t have to bow to me my little filly. I’m just here to speak to the Professor.”
“You are?” Safon said approaching and looking at Trinity and handing her some coins and his coffee mug. “Trinity here’s some money and my mug. Can you take these and get some food and coffee while I speak with the Princess?”
“Uhh sure.” Trinity replied getting up while she took the stuff Safon gave her with her magic and heading outside past Luna.
After Trinity left Safon looked at Luna. “So ya want to come in?”
Luna nodded and walked in looking at the quadricycle as she did. “Another invention of yours?” She asked.
Safon shrugged. “It’s just a proof of concept for a practical motor vehicle design I have.”
“I see.” Luna replied continuing to look the machine over.
After a few moments of silence Safon decided to break it. “I’m going to assume you’re here to talk about my conversation with your sister.”
Luna turned around and looked at him sternly. “Yes that exactly why I’m here. And don’t worry I’m not here to get mad, I’m just here to hear what you had to say for yourself.”
Safon himself chuckled nervously. “Well like I told Four Star I just wanted to make it clear I wouldn’t allow myself to be taken advantage of, and showing I could easily sneak into your quarters with a big fucking revolver was the best way I could think of.”
“I hope you know that Celestia was humoring you when you disarmed your weapon.” Luna said as she used her magic to remove Safon’s custom Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 magnum revolver from his right shoulder holster. “I must say though, my sister’s description of the weapon wasn’t wrong, It’s a fascinating piece of work.”
“For the record I had backups.” Safon pointed out as he reached his left hand behind his back and pulled out a nickel plated compact officer’s Colt M1911 with pearl grips, holding it up with his finger on the trigger guard. “I’m not an idiot.”
Luna chuckled at this as she gave him back his revolver. “I never said you were. I suppose a world without magic can cause it’s inhabitants to devise different methods of warfare.”
“Well there is some magic in my world hence my immortality. However it’s only in extremely small quantities and most of the world doesn’t even know about it.” Safon added as he put his pistols away.
“I see. How old do you think you’ll live to be?” Luna asked.
It was clear to Safon that she was trying to figure something out but he decided it wouldn’t hurt to indulge her. “My brother Dr. Augustus Safon thinks we’ll likely live indefinitely unless we’re killed by outside forces like injury or disease. In Fact none of us have really aged for well over a thousand years.”
“Oh I see.” Luna said sadly looking down before another thought came to her head. “You’re the second Henry Safon correct? What about the first Henry Safon?”
Luna’s questioning was really confusing him now. “Well you see there’s a funny story behind that. You see I’m the first and second Henry Safon.” He started with a nervous laugh as Luna leaned in interested by this discovery. “To pass off our immortality Augustus and I made a fake surname and I went further with a fake first name. Our plan was to live our lives as long as reasonably possible, fuck off for about ten years and come back as our ‘sons’. However about half way through the second time we decided fuck it and just left our names the way we had them at the time. Why do you ask anyways?”
Luna grew nervous and gulped. “Do you remember my sister telling you of a strange creature warning us of you?” Safon nodded. “Well he also called himself Henry Safon but unlike you he was quite elderly and on his deathbed.”
Safon’s eyes grew wide at this news. “What!! What did he say about me!?! How did he act!?! What did he wear?!?! Did he do anything?!?” He asked in a panic.
“No he didn’t do anything!” Luna started in hopes of calming him down. “He acted very tired said he was ‘tying loose ends.’. He talked a lot to Starswirl and my sister and tried to talk to me but I was too far by then.” She said with regret. “All he said about you was that he’d be back and we’d know it.”
“Ok good. I thought he was someone else for a moment.” Safon said calming himself down.
“Who else could it possibly have been?” Luna prodded.
He chuckled. “You should know that often times you are your worst enemy.”
“I see.” Luna replied remembering her time as Nightmare Moon and deciding to move on. “That’s all I can really tell you unfortunately. You’d have to ask my sister.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Safon said remembering Starswirl’s journal.
“Anyways why don’t you tell me about this machine here.” Luna said gesturing the quadricycle, changing the subject.
Safon also deciding it was best to change the subject cleared his throat. “Well this is what is known as a quadricycle. It’s basically a self propelled wagon, powered by a gasoline engine.I think there’s a few similar models from Prance running around in some of the wealthier circles.”
“I see. I’ve heard of these devices myself but never got to see one.” Luna said fascinated, taking a closer look at it. “It’s awful small though to really be a useful wagon.”
“Oh don’t worry this is just a proof of concept. I’m better at working on and modifying engines than I am at building one from scratch. So I’m building a small one to see if I can actually do it. After testing I plan on moving on to a larger scale.”
“What do you plan on doing after that? Everytime I hear self moving carriages brought up the words ‘fad’ and ‘novelty’ are usually not too far away.”
Safon snickered. “Yeah I know about that. Trust me all that’ll be needed for these to catch on is for there to be a reliable and affordable automobile to exist. That’s what was needed for them to catch on in my world.”
“I don’t doubt you can make a reliable one but how do you plan on making them affordable? The ones I’ve seen in the magazine adverts are extremely expensive.”
“I have an idea for that too but I need to speak to Fancy Pants about it further.”
The door to the outside suddenly opened and Trinity came in carrying food and a steaming mug of coffee in her magical field. “Professor I’m back and I brought you your coffee.” She said as she levitated the mug to Safon before turning to Luna. “Sorry Princess I didn’t know what you wanted. So I just go you a dandelion sandwich.”
Luna chuckled. “Oh don’t worry dear I was just leaving now anyways.”
“Are you sure.” Trinity asked hoping to get to speak to a Princess.
“I’m quite sure dear.” Luna said before turning to Safon. “Thank you for the conversation Professor. It was very interesting.”
Safon nodded. “Thank you Princess. I thought it was interesting too. I’ll be sure to contact you if I need anything.” He then guided her to the door and the Princess left. Once he was sure she was gone he turned back to Trinity. “Alright once we eat we’re taking this out for a test drive.”
“Here should be good.” Safon said as they stopped moving the quadricycle to the street just outside the workshop. He then put on his brown leather newsboy cap and a pair of goggles as he sat down on the quadricycle’s seat. “Alright Trinity start the engine!”
“Okay Professor!” Trinity replied as she used her magic to pull the ripcord on the engine, starting it.
As the engine ran for a bit Safon adjusted the lever on the side of the steering wheel that controlled the spark plugs until they got to a good pace. Once he was happy with that he moved his hand to the gear shift lever to his side and shifted it into first gear. “Trinity I’m going to see what this thing can do now. Pull me off if I’m about to crash.” He yelled to her over the sounds of the engine. Trinity nodded and he took his foot off the break and onto the gas pedal causing the quadricycle to move forward. It moved slowly down the street as Safon had his hands on the steering wheel turning it slightly to test the steering. Once He was satisfied with how well the steering worked he shifted the gear into second gear and it started to go faster with Trinity looking at it amazed they got it to work so well while also being concerned for his safety, keeping a close eye on him incase she needed to levitate him off. He then drove it to the end of the street and made a U turn and drove back towards the workshop and stopped it once he got to the front door.
Trinity ran up to Safon once he stopped. “Professor how did it work!?”
Safon took his goggles off and looked at her smiling. “It has a few handling problems, but that could be due to the fact that I’m used to driving a muscle car. Beyond that it’s a step in the right direction!” He said as he glanced at his watch. “How ‘bout we call it a day and go home? We can run a few more tests tomorrow.”
Trinity gave him a puzzled look. “Are you sure we still have the whole evening to work on it.”
“I’m positive.” He said as he scratched his chin in thought. “That and I have to check on something at home too.”
“If you say so.” Trinity said suspicious about his reasoning.
After deciding to call it a day Trinity and Safon put the quadricycle away and have returned home with Safon retiring to his bedroom for a bit.
Safon’s bedroom was a simple room with a master bed centered against the right wall with night stands on both sides, both with various items on such as his aviator sunglasses, cell phone, wallet and pocket watch. On the side opposite to the door was a dresser and wardrobe he filled with the clothes he had in his ship with most of them being from the 70s and 80s. In the center was a small table and chair set that had a phonograph on it filling the room with music. Finally on the wall opposite of the bed was his desk and chair where he was sitting. The desk had many things on it like his old Sony Walkman that apparently survived the crash with a few tapes, an old USMA class ring from the class of 1898 with his name on it, his wedding photo with another photo of him and his wife with their son and daughter and a photo of him, his brother and friend Bill from the early 20s. However Safon’s attention was on two particular items, and old photo album and Starswirl's journal.
“Let’s see if he can confirm what Luna said.” He said taking a magnifying glass to help him read the slightly worn text. “Okay boring stuff about starting a school, Lunar rebellion and an apprentice. Yada yada yada come on man give me som…..hello there.” He said with interest as he found what he was looking for.
A new visitor has come to speak with the Princess’ this evening but this was no pony. No this was a creature of high intellect that stood on two legs like an adamas canas, yet it lacked fur except on it’s head and face like a pony's mane and beard, with it being white implying that perhaps it is an elder among its own kind. It was also attired in strange clothing, cloaked in a black cloak with a white tunic with a light blue waistcoat over it and grey trousers that extended to it’s feet that had shined black shoes on them. He as the creature described itself, went by a rather peculiar name also. He called himself Henry A. Safon the Second.
“Well then it looks like Miss Luna wasn’t lying after all.” He said with extreme interest as he read further.
When he approached the castle I was notified immediately and wanted to speak to him. He was brought to my study where he told me he came from another world. Wanting to know more I attempted to question him for more information he told me that it would be best that he told this information to the Princesses at the same time to which I agreed to and after speaking to Celestia about the matter she agreed to give him an audience tomorrow at midday to give him time to rest from his travels. I quite look forward to hearing what he can teach us about our world and those beyond our understanding.
Safon was laughing at this new information. “Well it looks like we were both keeping information from each other Celestia.” He said as he looked in the photo album and at a photo of him and his wife standing in front of a beautiful sunny spring meadow with a caption below it. The caption itself was not very detailed but it did have two words that spoke volumes about his travels and those two words were……
Equestria 1989