Chapter 8 Coffee in Canterlot
10:45 A.M., Ponyville Train Station, five minutes before departure
"Is it good?" Enoch asked Ditzy, munching on the funnel cake one of the train's stewards had brought her. "I've never had one of them."
"Mm." The mare nodded, swallowing her bite. "What book are you reading?" Enoch's face lit up. "It's one of my favorite books, "Two Graves," by D. Preston and L. Child. I would love to meet the authors! It's quite clever, using the names of mythical humans. No one knows who they really are." He said excitedly.
"What's it about?"
"Special Agent Alowinnyius Pendergrass of the Equestrian Bureau of Investigation is giving chase to the stallions who foalnapped his wife, Heylen. I'm at the part where he's chasing them to Mareico." he paused. "You can't really understand unless you read the two previous books. I cannot recommend these authors enough, Miss Hooves. I don't often recommend a book to somepony, but these, I must! Would you like to read it?" He asked, closing the book and offering it to her. "Are you done with it?" She asked, leaning forward to take it. "Yes. I've already read it twice over since yesterday morning, when I was at Noteworthy's bookstore." Ditzy's eyes widened. "What." Enoch shrugged his shoulders and gave a wry half-smile. "I'm a fast reader." Genuinely interested now, Ditzy accepted the book.
The moment her hoof touched the book, Enoch delved into his pocket, pulled out a flask, opened it, took a sip, closed it and returned it to his pocket. He laid down in his seat and rolled over to face the back. Her muzzle deep in the book, Ditzy didn't even notice.
3:30 P.M., Canterlot Train Station
A pleasant-sounding female voice came over the train's announcement system:
*Will all Canterlot-bound passengers please disembark. Repeat, will all Canterlot-bound passengers please disembark.*
The male Pegasus groaned faintly as he was woken by the train's forced decceleration. "Ah. A most unpleasant awakening, being jostled awake by the brakes of a locomotive." Enoch said sleepily. Sitting up, he shook his head and looked across the booth at Ditzy, leaning up against the side of the car, sleeping soundly, the book laying on her lap, pages down. She was snoring slightly. Enoch watched her for a moment, curious. Then he stood, quietly stepped over to her side of the booth, laid a hoof upon her shoulder and shook it gently. "Miss Hooves, we are arrived in Canterlot. Wake up." "Hmm? Wha' izzit Dinks?" She mumbled sleepily, then fell back asleep. Patiently, Enoch shook her awake again. "Ditzy? Wake up. It is time to get off the train." "Five more minutes?"
"Now, please. The train is unloading right now."
"Do I hafta?" "Yes."
"Awww. I' was sucha nice dream..."
"Come. Give me your hoof. Let us depart."
As Enoch and Ditzy stepped off the train, shielding their eyes from the bright sun, Enoch began to look around. "What are you looking for, Professor?" Ditzy asked. Hoof over his eyes, he said, "Twilight Sparkle. She's supposed to meet us here." After a moment, "Perhaps she got the time wrong?" No sooner had the words left his mouth than a voice cried out, "Professor! Over here!"
Enoch's face brightened and pointed a hoof. "That would be her! See, Miss Hooves, over by the ticket booth?" Ditzy looked over at where his hoof was pointed and, accompanied by a tall and thin tan-colored Earth stallion, a young lavender Unicorn mare was standing by the ticket booth, waving her forelegs in the air. "How do you know theTwilight Sparkle?!" Ditzy asked excitedly (Ditzy was an immense fan of the Unicorn's submissions to Equestria Daily, The Equestrian Journal of Psychiatry and her scientific lectures).
Smiling, Enoch replied, "When she was a filly, I was one of her teachers at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Her physics and magical theory teacher, among other subjects. Ooh, look sharp, she comes to us."
She was indeed approaching at no slow rate, and when she reached the two Pegasi, the Unicorn squeezed Enoch in a bear hug. "Professor! Welcome back to Canterlot!"
Returning the hug, Enoch said, "Twilight! Twilight Sparkle, how are you, my dear? You look wonderful!" Releasing the embrace, the male Pegasus's attention fell on the tan stallion, who had just come into view over Twilight's shoulder. "Good day to you..." He froze, for he recognized the stallion. "Oh goodness gracious me, you're Nickerla Tailsla!"
Before Tesla and Enoch could acquaint themselves, an arrogant snort sounded from behind them. "Hmph. Two Pegasuses, a Unicorn and an Earth pony. You know, Professor, ponies of different races should not... intermingle. It is a sign of simply awful breeding to even consider that. You know, I had assumed a pony of your intelligence and standing would know that, but seeing where you hail from, this is not much of a surprise." None of the three needed to turn around to recognize the speaker; indeed, few could not.
Nevertheless, Enoch slowly turned around (intentionally irking Blueblood, for who else could it be?), drew himself to his respectable full height, and made direct eye contact with the almost-tangibly arrogant noblepony, staring him down. "And I would advise you, Blueblood, to harrass neither myself nor my companions, and to keep your abnormally large snout out of our business, lest something sharp close upon it."
Shocked, Blueblood's face remained flat expressionless for about two seconds, then it scrunched up in anger and indignation. He swung a hoof at the male Pegasus and he completely lost track of what happened in the next second. All he knew was he somehow ended up sprawling facedown on the Canterlot pavement. Furious, he clambered to his hooves and wheeled about to face the cyan Pegasus. The aforementioned Pegasus was looking at him with a bored face on.
Irritation and annoyance dripping from his voice, Enoch asked, "Are we really going to do this again?" Blueblood snorted angrily, but realized that, once again, he was no match for the Professor. He turned on his heel and stalked away, head held high, muttering something about "an uppity peasant."
Enoch illuminated a big smile and looked at his student, his assistant, then his scientific idol. "Shall we carry on?" he said brightly.
Author's Note: My deepest apologies for my lateness, my dears. I could say that my life as of late has been sheer Discord, what with my job, schoolwork and other duties and that that has kept me from posting/updating in an attempt to save face, but I won't. (Even though it's true.) Please review or PM me your thoughts!
