The Experiments Begin

The Experiments Begin

The next morning when Mr. Hall had pulled up his taxi cart to the inn, he called out for help in unloading the strangers luggage. "By Celestia!" cried his wife as she hurried outside. "I expected a few trunks to be put in his room, but hes got dozens of boxes, six wooden crates, and who knows that else!"

         "Come along with those things!" called the stranger as he stormed out of the inn. "I've been waiting long enough." His coat collar was turned up, his wide-brimmed hat was pulled down over his face, and his hoofs were covered with heavy dark gloves. He trotted around to the back of the taxi and began unloading his things. Just as he was about to lift one of the smaller crates from the cart, a neighborhood dog ran up to the stranger and sprang at his hoof. Before Mr. Hall could reach into his cart for his stick, the animals teeth let go of the strangers gloved hoof and clamped onto his hind legs instead. The next moment, Mr. Hall had tossed the stick a distance away and it attracted the dog in the opposite direction of the stranger.

         The stranger gave little notice of this, for he was tending to his torn glove that had now began to slip from his hoof. When Mr. Halls came to take a look, the stranger took off into the inn and up to his bedroom. "I'd better go in and see if he's all right," said Mr. Hall.

"Yes, and hurry," suggested his wife.

         With a nod, Mr. Hall hurried into the inn and galloped up the stairs. Finding the strangers door to be open, Mr. Hall entered the room, prepared to offer his sympathy and any help that the stranger might need. The drapes were closed, making the room dim, and Mr. Hall saw the strangest thing he had ever seen in his life. The foreleg of the strangers coat was shaking at him... but without a hoof! The next moment, Hall was struck hard in the chest, then pushed back out of the room, and then the door slammed in his face. Mr. Hall stood outside the door for a minute, scratching his head in bewilderment. "What did I see in there? Did I see anything?" he asked himself.

         He turned his attention to the door of the strangers room, and prepared to knock, but then a bolt of fear shot throughout his body. Did he dare to it enter once again? Quickly making up his mind, Mr. Hall made his way down the stairs, still bewildered and quite confused. By now, a crowed had gathered out in front of the inn, as Mrs. Hall argued with the dogs owner, who was holding the dog by the collar with his teeth. Since Mr. Hall still didn't know what he had actually seen in the strangers bedroom, he simply told his wife, "He didn't want any help. I think we'd better get his luggage up to him."

"You ought to have a doctor look at his bite." suggested one mare in the crowed.

"I didn't see any blood," said another, "or even any skin under his gloves when they tore."

"Whatever the matter," added another pony. "Just get somepony to restrain that dog. I hear Fluttershy cares for woodland creatures near the Everfree Forest." Heads nodded in agreement as this was said.

         Just then, the dog tried to pull away again. With the owner close behind him, the animal  pointed his nose towards the inn and began to growl. Quickly restraining the dog, the owner and all the eyes of the crowed turned their attention to the entrance of the inn. "Come along, Hall!" cried an angry voice at the door. It was the stranger, wearing a new coat and waving a fresh pair of gloves. His collar was still turned up, and his big hat was again pulled down over his face."Were you hurt, sir?" asked Mrs. Hall.

"Not a bit. He never broke the skin. Now, hurry up with those thing, Mr. Hall."

         It was then that the crowed began to break away, and the simple excitement in the crowed began to fade. For them, it was back to work, and back to another beautiful day in Ponyville.

         No sooner had the crates been placed in the strangers room, then the stranger eagerly flung himself down into them and began to unpack. He scattered straw from the crates all over the carpet as he took out assorted instruments and magic written notebooks, along with scores of test tubes and bottles in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some contained powders, others liquids, and still others were labeled, 'Poison.' He set them on cabinets, shelves, bookcases, window ledges, and tables all over the room. It looked more like the village pharmacy than a bedroom. Trunks of clothes and boxes of books were left untouched as the stranger began his experiments.

         He worked steadily all morning, pouring drops from bottles into test tubes, mixing and swirling them around with powder. He didn't even stop when Mrs. Hall came into the room with his lunch tray. He paid no attention to her, but as she put the tray on his table, she noticed that he wasn't wearing his dark glasses. "By Celestia!" she gasped underneath her breath. "His eye sockets look as if they're empty!"

         The stranger heard the gasp and quickly put his glasses back on. "I wish you wouldn't come in without knocking!" he snapped. She backed away, sensing his aura of anger building upon him. "I did knock, several times, sir, but you obviously didn't hear me." she protested meekly. The strangers anger lessened as this was said, and he began to turn his concentration back to his experiments.

"Yes, perhaps you did." he replied. "But my experiments require my complete concentration. I cannot have any disturbances at all."

"I understand. There is a lock on the door. You can use it anytime you wish. Also, these piles of straw from your unpacking will mean extra clean--"

"Don't bother me with that. Put an extra charge on my bill. Now leave me to my work."

         Mrs. Hall didn't appreciate the way the stranger replied, but she respecfully left him to his work. For the next several hours, no sounds came from the strangers room as he worked in silence. Then suddenly, Mrs. Hall heard the smashing of bottles, followed by hoofsteps rapidly stomping around the room. Fearing that something terrible may have happened, she hurried up the stairs and listened at the door. She was afraid to knock, sensing the attitude of the stranger was negative at the moment. "I can't go on like this!" she heard the stranger raving. "I can't go on! I've tried magic, I've tried potions, even magic potions, but nothing works! It may take me the rest of my life to find the answer to this experiment! I don't have the time, I don't have the patience! What am I to do?"