Chapter Nine - Ponyville

Twelve miles outside Ponyville
Present Time

"For the longest time, I felt hollow; I went through the motions of daily life; it all was a blur, and it all meant nothing to me, not anymore," Grey continued his story. Twilight listened as they sat in the car. "Until I met you. You helped me remember why I wanted to become a teacher in the first place. I saw what I had turned into and knew that Dazzler would be disappointed in me. You're a lot like her sometimes," he turned to her with morose eyes, "it frightens me."

"I'm sorry, Grey, I didn't know. . ." Twilight spoke softly.

Grey inhaled a slow, deep breath from his nostrils. He started up the car. "I can never get over it nor forget it completely, but I am trying. The class, every student, I come to think of them as my own. I want to protect them, guide them, love them, and discipline them when I need to."

"Do you have favourites?" Twilight asked, trying to move the conversation along to a brighter path. "Besides me, of course," she added playfully.

Grey cracked a faint smile, "You were adorable as a filly, what happened to you?" This earned him a glare and pout from the lavender unicorn. "There are a few I pay more attention to. Diamond Dancer, she has a lot of potential but is having trouble as an orphan. The discoloration of her fur makes her a target for bullying which she answers with violence. I don't blame her, but she should also learn to control herself. She wants to be a Wonderbolt. Then there is Skippy Sparkles. She's just precious and adorable when she doesn't skip her meds, otherwise, she becomes quite the handful. She wants to be the first mare on the moon. She has the smarts to take her there. Brave Heart is another one I have my hopes for. He shows great promise as a leader and is a hard worker. I know he will keep the others in line while I am away."

"You really like children, don't you?" Twilight mused when his face lit up as he talked about his students.

An hour later, the two of them find themselves parking near the edge of the Ponyville market. Vehicles were forbidden from entering the market since the town was still paved with stones. After the three hour drive, Twilight did not mind walking. Her new dark blue coat, pink mane, and tail enjoyed the afternoon rays of Princess Celestia's star. Her cerise eyes absorbed the sights before her: rows of stalls lined the market, ponies of every species, size, age, and color walked about; they talked, laughed, and smiled, which was a great change of pace from the serious, straight-laced ponies of Canterlot.

"Target acquired," she heard Grey say mechanically with a smirk.

Twilight followed his eyes and spotted the blonde, orange earth pony mare at an apple stall.

A bright yellow filly with equally bright red mane, which was tied back with a large pink bow, crossed their path and Grey smiled warmly down at her, "Hello, sweetie. My daughter and I are new here. Would you be able to show us around?"

'Daughter?' Twilight echoed in her head but kept her smile. She waved at the little filly.

Her tangerine eyes stared up at him and she pouted. "Mah name's not 'Sweetie'! Ah'm Apple Bloom!" she introduced herself with her thick drawl.

"Precious!" Grey's heart melted. "My humblest of apologies, Apple Bloom. My name is Grey Vulcan," he extended a hoof towards Twilight, "This is my daughter IQ."

"Pleasure ta make yer acquaintance!" Apple Bloom shook their hooves. "Ah'd be happy ta show y'all 'round!"

Apple Bloom tried her best to show the two newcomers the best places in town and to be as helpful as possible. She first introduced them to her big sister Applejack who allowed her to continue the tour. With the market out of the way, she showed them to Town Hall, then to all the restaurants, stores, the library (which Twilight obviously wanted to spend more time in), their next big stop was the Carousel Boutique where they met Rarity and a second filly joined their party: Sweetie Bell.

Grey decided to treat everpony to lunch, and the two fillies suggested a sugary treat at Sugarcube Coner. The bright pink cupcake atop the establishment did not catch Grey's eye nor did the chocolate looking roof with white icing trim, no the thing that grabbed his attention the most was the weathervane pony seemingly made of chocolate that held a candy cane in its hooves. Was it real chocolate? If it was, how did it move in the wind? If Grey were any older, he probably would have died of sweetness overload; not from the delicious confections but from the two foals Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. He had to excuse himself after holding the twins.

Sensing his change in demeanor, the two fillies decided to continue with the tour by taking them to their school. Scootaloo had just been released from afterschool lessons when she joined her friends. Dusk was fast approaching, Grey and Twilight escorted the fillies to their respective homes. They then revealed their true purpose for visiting Ponyville to Rarity. Rarity, understandably, declined, saying she needed to take care of Sweetie Belle. Applejack gave them a similar answer. With her brother Big Mac injured because of a runaway tractor, she needed to tend to her farm and family. That left one pony left on the list.

Twilight glued her ears firmly to her head, hoping it would keep the blaring noise out of her ringing eardrums. She loathed entering the club. When the bouncer confirmed their target was inside, Grey had asked if she wanted to wait outside. Twilight did not want to be outside alone with random poniesa mare had already tried hitting on her. They sat at the bar waiting for a bouncer they "tipped" to deliver a message to the DJ. A few minutes after she had ended her set, the bouncer returned and escorted them back to the VIP area.

"Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to see us, Miss Scratch," Grey greeted the unicorn lounging on a red chair who was sipping on water from a bottle. She shrugged her shoulders and slipped her headphones off her ears. Grey continued, "I am Colonel Grey Vulcan of the RASF. This is Special Agent IQ. We are here to recruit you for a special secret task force."

The DJ lowered her tinted glasses with a hoof and raised a curious brow.

"With your contributions so far to the military," Twilight began, "we believe your expertise would give the task force an edge in combat situations. You are not required to be in the field and will work with us under a contract and in secret."

Vinyl Scratch eyed to the two ponies before her and pushed up her glasses. Why would they want to recruit me? Why a 'secret task force'? Was something bad about to happen? If I say no will they kidnap me?

"Miss Scratch," Grey interrupted her thoughts and smiled, "An unknown entity looms ever closer. Their intentions are clear: they want to harm as many ponies as possible and cripple our nation. We could use all the help as possible. You will be helping guarantee the security of your home and the safety of your family and friends."

Vinyl Scratch got off the couch and walked over to Grey. "Will you teach me how to shoot a gun?" she inquired.

Grey chuckled and extended a hoof, "We will teach you all the combat skills you want."

"I'm in," Vinyl shook the stallion's hoof. "When do I start?"