private That Shrinking Feeling

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

@@Blue,

 

"Whoa, I have an accent?" Anala said in realisation. Now there was something she hadn't noticed. "But, yeah, I'm from Manehattan. I work as an archery instructor. As my own boss," she explained. "Well, what about you, Blaze? Do you live here in Ponyville? And what's your job?"

Edited July 6, 2014 by Green Eclipse

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

"I'm living in Ponyville for a couple of years, as I study a few things about drink mixing. I'm a root beer pony by trade, and I'm seeing what I can get from ponies like the famous Apples and their cider-making. I'm originally from a little place called Sarsaparilla Springs, at the edge of the San Palomino desert." Blaze looked at Anala. "You mix and meet a lot of different faces when you go out to explore the world... What about you? Why are you here in Ponyville?"

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

@@Blue,

 

"Well, I thought I could use a break from the city life," explained Anala. "And a friend of mine tells me that Ponyville is a 'sweet, quaint little place'. One of the few times I come here and look wha happened! But I've never heard of Sarsaparilla Springs. It sounds like a course on Super Ponio World," she commented.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Green Eclipse

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Kay Dreamer could hardly believe the scene she saw before her. As the final notes of the music died away the snake lay fast asleep, resting on it's belly with eyes lidded, firmly secured under the trap Blaze, Anala and Traveller had made. She'd sung it to sleep. She and Scribblegroove had felled a giant serpent with magic music. It was almost fantastical; like something taken from the pages of an old foals tale.

 

Sitting down, (because she felt her legs were likely to wobble out from under her), Kay looked over at where Scribblegroove stood and gave him a shaky smile. The emotions she'd held in check while charming the snake began flooding back. Trembling with adrenaline and nearly breathless with relief, started to laugh. She kept it soft so as not to wake the snake, but she couldn't hold it in, she was so overwhelmed. This whole situation was so bizarre and inconceivable and outrageous and she'd just sung a snake to sleep. It wasn't that she found their predicament funny, not at all; but it was all just so preposterous that quiet, helpless laughter was the only reaction she had left which fit.

 

Oh, they must all think I'm mad, she thought. Maybe I am, maybe a little. Maybe this is all an enormous hallucination.

 

"...Sooo, Kay, your singing was amazing. How'd you learn to sing like that?"

 

Blaze's voice helped bring Kay back to reality. She stood, wobbling over to the group as they resumed their trek through the grassy jungle answering him as they walked.

 

"Well, the Crystal Empire was hosting a few Saddle Arabian dignitaries and they'd bought an ashik to entertain the Royal Court. That's a sort of bard, sorry. His music was beautiful and I was just a filly, still learning about music and training to become a minstrel." Kay wasn't sure if anyone was listening, but storytelling calmed her nerves nearly as much as music did. "I asked him to teach me the notes of the scales he used in his music, and as we sang and played, he told me stories about Saddle Arabia. How these certain scales could charm snakes out of baskets and tales of magical lamps and genies and..." Kay trailed off, blushing slightly. "Anyway, that's how I learned."

 

Kay was content to listen as Anala caught up to Blaze and started speaking. She began to feel much better. Their conversation was about things so normal, she could almost forget they were all just one inch tall.

[Scribblegroove 565]

@@Kay Dreamer, @@Blue, @ 

Scribblegroove released the spell he had cast on Kay as soon as the snake had been put asleep. When he did that, he felt the energy it had cost him to produce the spell. He felt that he couldn't stand as stable anymore, and his head hurt a little. He frowned and closed his eyes for a moment. It felt as if something was pushing his horn down into his skull. That was a feeling more unicorns had after a significantly energy-consuming spell. It would be over in a few minutes, but that didn't make it any less painful.

 

He opened his eyes, still closing them halfway, since the light made his migraine even worse, and picked up on the conversations that were developing around him. He heard Blaze compliment him and Kay on their success with the snake, and a little small talk between Anala, Blaze and Kay. He coughed.

 

"I don't mean to be a buzzkill, but now that danger has been neutralized we should move... quickly... We can talk while walking." He exclaimed briskly. He turned to Blaze and smiled lightly. "As for the spell, it's quite a simple one really, but energy consuming..." He put his hoof to his head. "I can't say casting it did me well, but at least it got the snake to sleep... To be honest I was more impressed by Anala. It was really brave of you to just jump at the snake without a moment of hesitation." He said, glaring at the grey maned mare.

 

"So, a ministrel..." He said to Kay, who had mentioned her past. "An old word from old times. When this is all over we should have a talk..."

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

@@Scribblegroove,

 

Anala blushed at Scribblegroove's compliment. "Thanks a bunch, Scribble," she replied. "But it was a team effort. You and Kay lulled the snake to sleep, Blaze fetched me that leaf to blind the snake with..." she added. Gosh, I sound like Clementia, she thought.

Edited June 12, 2014 by Blue Eclipse

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Kay looked over at Scribble as he spoke, and winced in sympathy. She'd overdone it on spells before, and the result was always painful. She'd long ago realised how lucky she was that the emotive magic which she channelled through her music was intrinsic to her. She could sing and play to an audience all day, and the only things to get tired would be her voice and hooves. It looked as though whatever spell Scribble had just used to help her charm the snake had cost him a lot of energy.

 

"You and Kay lulled the snake to sleep, Blaze fetched me that leaf to blind the snake with..."

 

Kay laughed amiably at Anala's comment.

 

"Really? I completely froze, then I ran and hid under a leaf. You dashed out and simply hoofed the snake in the nose! I wish I could be so brave. If I hadn't been singing, I'd have hidden away trembling in fear the entire time."

 

Kay was in good spirits now that the rain had stopped and most of the mud had been washed off her coat. She was about to ask Blaze what Sarsaparilla Springs was like, but was caught off guard when Scribblegroove addressed her directly.

 

"So, a ministrel... An old word from old times. When this is all over we should have a talk..."

 

Kay looked over at Scribble in surprise. She couldn't see the grumpy stallion willingly engaging anyone in conversation. I thought he found me completely annoying, she thought. He'd sounded sincere though, and she quickly warmed to anyone who wanted to hear about her life before the Crystal Empire fell. Plus, she knew precious few ponies in this new era, and she wasn't about to alienate a potential friend. She smiled at him.

 

"Well, I'll tell you all about being a minstrel if you fill me in on the dozen or so centuries of music history I've missed," she teased. "I'm just a little behind the times."

Edited May 7, 2014 by Kay Dreamer

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

"Really? I completely froze, then I ran and hid under a leaf. You dashed out and simply hoofed the snake in the nose! I wish I could be so brave. If I hadn't been singing, I'd have hidden away trembling in fear the entire time."

 

Anala chuckled, and put an arm around Kay's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it. If you met some of my fillyfriends from back in school, you'd feel better about yourself." She laughed inwardly as she recalled old times.

 

"So, anyway, what were you doing before you got cut down to size?" she asked.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Green Eclipse

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Kay Dreamer grinned at Anala. "I guess your friends don't have to be brave if they have someone like you taking care of them," she said.

 

"So, anyway, what were you doing before you got cut down to size?"

 

"Well, you heard me say I'm a minstrel," Kay said. "I used to travel from the Crystal Empire, across Equestria, spreading our stories and music as far as I was able. Along the way, I'd pick up new songs, stories, and news to bring back to the Empire when I returned. I'm sort of still doing that now," Kay explained. "Ponies in this time know even less about the Crystal Empire than they did before it disappeared. We've been gone for so long..." A shadow of sadness flickered briefly across her face. "Besides, I like to travel. I want to see the whole world, however much it's changed."

 

She left out the part about not having actually returned to the Crystal Empire since Sombra's attack. The reasons were too painful, and her new friends didn't need to be burdened with her problems.

 

"This meadow hasn't changed though," she added as an afterthought. "It looks exactly the same as it did one thousand years ago. Once we're unshrunk, I'd like to spend a day or two just relaxing here."

Edited May 7, 2014 by Kay Dreamer

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

"I guess your friends don't have to be brave if they have someone like you taking care of them."

 

Anala chuckled. "Well, Riley not so much. He's pretty fearless, too. It's as if he doesn't even know what danger is," she replied. "And he's a pretty fun guy. I mean, if he were here right now, he'd just take it as an opportunity to make new friends. He always sees the sunshine behind the clouds. And a little... how shall I put it... eccentric, too," she added. "But for some reason, whenever he and I are in the same room together with nopony else, he gets sweaty and nervous. He'll sometimes begin a sentence with, 'Um, Anala, can I talk to you about something?' and then he'll stutter and fly away scared. No clue why."

 

"I used to travel from the Crystal Empire, across Equestria, spreading our stories and music as far as I was able. Along the way, I'd pick up new songs, stories, and news to bring back to the Empire when I returned. I'm sort of still doing that now,"

 

"The Crystal Empire, huh? That explains your glowing coat. Wait, you travelled across Equestria? Did you have a fixed place to stay?"

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Giggling at Anala's description of her friend's antics, Kay Dreamer was almost tempted to tell her the real reason behind his odd behaviour... She didn't need to have met this pony to know what that meant!

 

"Wait, you travelled across Equestria? Did you have a fixed place to stay?"

 

"Nope," Kay said. "I wander from place to place. Just myself, my wagon, a warm bedroll and the bits earned from making music for ponies along the way. That lifestyle is what makes it so difficult to actually train a proper minstrel," she explained. "The slightly political nature of what we do means we have to be aristocracy. Or at the very least, groomed by aristocracy. We need to be able to mingle with high society to pick up news and intrigue, or we're little more than musical vagrants. But try convincing an aristocrat that spending a year wandering through windigo-knows-where is in any way a good idea."

 

Kay smiled. "They got lucky with me. I was skilled at music, and I'd always loved the idea of travelling. Our old minstrel was getting on in years and looking to retire. When we figured out my special talent was related to inspiring emotion with music, he began training me to take his place. I've never once regretted it. This life may not always be glamorous, but it's much more fun!"

Edited May 10, 2014 by Kay Dreamer

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

"Well, I can sure say from experience that it's fun to learn about things in the world by travelling. My drink-tour of Equestria may not be as action-packed as other pony's quests, but I'm learning an awful lot about how to improve my next batch of craft root beers when I get back to Sarsparilla. What the--" Blaze froze frustratedly, looking at the scene just beyond the edge of the grass.

Beyond the edge of the field was a small rising stony mound, topped with a thick uniform beam, and just beyond it, the rooftops of Ponyville. Blaze hopped up on the mound, which lay in a perfect straight line, like the inverse of a ditch, as far as the eye could see both left and right. The stones of the mound were slighty larger than he was, dry and quite jagged. At the top of the mound, he stepped onto a large wooden slat, which sat underneath the thick beam. The beam was a deep roan brown: a tall wall with an enormous curved lip at the top. To his eyes, it was at least ten times his height, and its apperance gave no friendliness to climbing.

"Who puts a giant metal wall in the middle of a field?" complained Blaze. As soon as he said it, a shrill steam whistle sounded, some distance down to the right of the wall. Blaze ran a little back towards the grass to get a better view along the wall's length, and he spotted a plume of white smoke billowing off of some great shadow looming, a fair distance away. "...It's a railroad track. This is the Ponyville main line!" The train sat quietly sitting on the track, barely visible against the edge of the rail over the perspective distance, as it was fairly far away, quietly chuffing in position. "The train must be sitting at the station. At least then it's not getting in our way too." said Blaze, looking up impatiently at the track wall.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Blue

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

"I wander from place to place. Just myself, my wagon, a warm bedroll and the bits earned from making music for ponies along the way. That lifestyle is what makes it so difficult to actually train a proper minstrel,"

 

Anala seemed interested. "Did you have your wagon with you before you got shrunk?" she asked. "Because I'd like to hear some of your music, if it's no trouble."

 

"The train must be sitting at the station. At least then it's not getting in our way too."

 

Anala wondered what Blaze was talking about, then looked up to see a railroad track. It would have been no trouble to get over... if it wasn't giant to them.

 

She then had an idea. "What if we form a tower? In other words, we climb on top of each of each other, biggest at the bottom, smallest at the top."

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

"What if we form a tower? In other words, we climb on top of each of each other, biggest at the bottom, smallest at the top."

 

"That sounds like it would work. Or at least, I hope it would. So who's--" Blaze looked around at the other ponies present, before looking over his shoulder at himself; a whole head taller than the others. "...Oh right. I forget that part. Hop up, whoever." he said, stepping closer to the track and bending lower to make it easier for anypony to stand on his back. "So Kay, you were saying? Something about minstrel-ery?"

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Picking her way over dry, jagged rocks, Kay Dreamer endeavoured to answer Anala while clambering through the ridiculous terrain. "I did have my wagon, but" -huff- "I'd unhitched it when I" -huff- "ran to see where Scribblegroove's music was coming from. Besides," -huff- "it probably wouldn't have shrunk with me anyway." She stopped as every pony else did, by a giant metal impasse. "I guess it's still sitting in the middle of the... field..?"

 

"...It's a railroad track. This is the Ponyville main line!"

 

"Wow..." Kay breathed. She was amazed by the size of the track. She'd never seen train tracks up close, and had only travelled by rail once. The... sensation... was not terribly pleasant. Still, she found trains fascinating; a true marvel of this modern Equestria. Kay Dreamer stood back and watched as a wobbly tower of ponies began assembling before her, in the hope of climbing over the beam. She was the smallest, and almost certainly the least strong, so she figured she'd be best suited to climb to the very top and help Traveller lift the others. Magic may be able to help with that a little, she thought.

 

Moving to stand by Blaze, just far enough back to avoid any potential falling ponies, Kay continued chatting. "Once we're back to a normal size, I can play for you all. 'A minstrel should always share the gift of music with any pony who wishes to listen.' That's what my old Master used to tell me."

Edited May 10, 2014 by Kay Dreamer

[Scribblegroove 565]

Scribblegroove had been absentmindedly following the group, mentally complaining about his headache, and the situation in general. It was all ridiculous. Though this little escapade was interesting to say the least, he began to grow tired already. Why don't we arrive already... They had fended off a ridiculously high fall, pounding rain and an enormous snake. You'd think their adventure would come to an end soon...

 

Ooh... I jinxed it... Was the first thing Scribblegroove thought when he saw the giant steel wall pan into view. He frowned. It was almost ten times taller than they were. He thought about their problem for a moment. Forming a tower... But that's preposterous. How would that work? Perhaps I can levitate myself up there... Or...

 

As he followed the group, pinching his eyes to slightly reduce the pain in his head, he tried to think of a more intelligent solultion. He eventually sighed and gave up. He couldn't come up with anything better, so he decided to just go with the flow. 

 

He heard Blaze mention a knack for brewery, or something similiar. A 'drink-tour' around equestria. He laughed, and immediately regretted it, since it worsened the pain in his head. "I could use a drink right now..." He said. Though it would numb the pain momentarily, it would probably make it worse afterwards. He followed the little group to where blaze was standing. He wasn't very agile, and struggled getting there over the rubble. He stumbled a few times, but arrived without much harm done to himself. He was breathing heavily now, and was becoming increasingly agitated with the situation. "I hope we arrive to the library soon. This situation is starting to tire me..."

 

He looked around for a moment, before realizing that he was likely supposed to hop on Blaze's back. He frowened. He didn't particulary feel like it, but he supposed there was no other way. He didn't really care either way, he wanted to get it over with. "Right then. I think I'm the next biggest pony here. I really hope this works, because it sound a little stupid to me... But, I learned that the simplest plans are usually the best, so let's have faith in that saying..." He stepped forward to blaze's side and hopped on a bit awkwardly. It was weird trying to stand on another living being.

Edited May 12, 2014 by Scribblegroove

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

"Once we're back to a normal size, I can play for you all. 'A minstrel should always share the gift of music with any pony who wishes to listen.' That's what my old Master used to tell me."

 

"That would be wonderful, thank you, Kay," said Anala, and looked over to the tower as it was currently arranged. "Right. So I guess I'm supposed to go next," commented Anala. She was a tough mare, so she should be able to support Kay Dreamer. She walked up to Blaze and Scribblegroove, to see that together, they were much taller than her. She then noticed that Scribblegroove was a unicorn. "Uh, a little hoof here, Scribble?" she asked, gesturing to his horn.

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Kay winced as Anala asked Scribblegroove to levitate her to the top of their tower. The stallion still looked somewhat haggard and in pain, and she knew levitating a pony was probably the worst thing he could try at this point. Thinking quickly, she cut him off before he could respond.

 

"Wait! Hold on Anala, I may be able to give you a push. Scribble looks, um... Well, it'd be hard enough to keep balance without trying to do magic at the same time," she babbled, not wanting to embarrass him. Closing her eyes in concentration, Kay's horn glowed a light yellow. A yellow aura of magic surrounded Anala as she rose a whole millimetre of the ground... before dropping back onto the stones as the spell broke. "Owww," Kay groaned rubbing her own horn now. "Okay, that... wasn't a very clever idea..." she mumbled.

 

She turned to the somewhat quiet Unicorn who had also yet to attempt climbing. "Would you mind lending a horn for a second?" She gestured at Anala. "Between the two of us, we should be able to levitate her. Or... wait, perhaps you should maybe go first!" Kay tried to put on an encouraging smile, though anypony else would tell her it did not look terribly convincing. "You look um... strong enough. Probably. Anala and I can give you a hoof-up and once you're steady you can pull her up after you."

[DukeofCanterlot 158]

Number Cruncher couldn't believe the situation he was in, but everything seemed so damn real.. just magnified approximately a hundred times in size.

 

Number Cruncher heard the suggestion of Kay Dreamer and said with calm confidence, "It's certainly worth a try. Between the two of us, we should be able to get Anala to the top."  On the inside, Cruncher was a tad nervous. He considered himself a pony in good shape and would probably would be able to help Kay.. but one important question.... when will the next train go over the tracks?

 

Cruncher approached the tower which consisted of Blaze and Scribblegroove. He smiled at Kay and Anala.

Edited May 17, 2014 by DukeofCanterlot

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

Anala rubbed her snout as she got up from the ground. "I guess I'm not very experienced in how magic works," she said sheepishly.

 

"You look um... strong enough. Probably. Anala and I can give you a hoof-up and once you're steady you can pull her up after you."

 

"Yeah, I can handle that," she said, walking over to Cruncher and Kay. "Well, ready when you are."

 

She doubted she was the only one wondering; When would the next train come?

Edited July 6, 2014 by Green Eclipse

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Kay smiled apologetically at Anala. "Yeah, that wan't exactly my finest moment either... I should know better than to try levitating somepony heavier than I am. Sorry! I'm glad you're okay." She sat on her haunches in front of Anala, next to where Blaze and Scribble were standing. She couldn't help but feel those two may be getting a tad impatient. It hadn't yet occurred to her to worry about the train itself. Linking her front two hooves with Anala's, she motioned to Number Cruncher. "We're good to go. Hop on!"

 

Nodding at Anala, she counted down. "Okay, 3-2-1- UP."

[Rainbow Eclipse 3,927]

"Yeah, that wasn't exactly my finest moment either... I should know better than to try levitating somepony heavier than I am. Sorry! I'm glad you're okay."

 

"It's fine. It was fun while it lasted," replied Anala. Gosh, so many Pegasi take their flying abilities for granted, she thought.

 

She followed Kay over to Number Cruncher and linked hooves with the former.

[DukeofCanterlot 158]

Number Cruncher followed Kay's lead and went through with the plan.

After an awkward second of trying to keep his balance, Number Cruncher land on top of Scribblegroove adding to the pony tower.

"Easy enough, now it's time to get Anala on", Number Cruncher began his attempt to levitate to Anala.. hopefully, him and Kay would be enough.

Edited May 17, 2014 by DukeofCanterlot

[Scribblegroove 565]

Scribblegroove grunted when Cruncher's weight pushed down on his back. He looked down at Anala and Kay. "Would you mind hurrying up a little? We do not have all day..." He said slightly agitated, trying to keep his balance so that Number Cruncher would not fall, his knees slightly bent, and the muscles in his body under tension. Looking around he saw the small-large pieces of gravel they were standing on. They would not grant a soft fall if they were to lose their balance. He swallowed. He didn't like pain in the slightest. Of course nopony did, but he had grown up a environment of comfort. Some would call him 'spoiled', other's 'a wuss'. He preferred to call it 'fine'. It didn't help in this situation though.

 

He then realised that Blaze was carrying the weight of both him and Cuncher. He felt rather bad for him. "Wow, Blaze, are you O.K? Do you think you can hold it? All this looks pretty heavy" He asked him while looking down at him. The pain in his head had faded mostly now, but he couldn't come up with any way to help him without giving himself a major migraine. He really hoped all of them together would reach high enough...

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

Blaze was breathing deep enough to be audible.

"A'hm fine!" he grunted abruptly, between breaths. "Pulling things's easier though."

I'll take a cart over a pony pyramid any day! He thought to himself. Once Kay is up there, she can pull up Anala, and then us guys can figure out our own way to get across the track.

 

A ways down the track, the train suddenly flurried with hissing steam, and sounded two long whistles.