Episode 9
Adopt-a-petable
"Mail call!" Kandi exclaims, bursting through the doors. "Mail call, maaaaaail caaaaaall!"
"Oh, good, my magazine's in." Cupie says, claiming her mail. "Um, Kandi dear? Where is my magazine?"
"Who said anything about a magazine? 'sides, doesn't that only come at the beginning of the month?"
"Isn't it?"
Kandi shakes her head.
"Then what could we have possibly received in the mail?" Cupie questions.
They take a look at it. It was addressed to Feather.
"Wonder what she got!" Kandi says, and begins to tear the top open.
"Ah ah- that's my business, and not yours." She warns, slowly pulling the letter away from the hyper girl. "Oh!"
"Oh? Oh what? What is it? What you get?" Kandi says, hopping up and down.
Feather smiles. "Just a response from the film festival."
"Is that coming up again already? I swear, I must be losing track of time." Cupie comments.
"It starts next month. I sent in a submission at the beginning of April though… I guess I forgot about it!" Feather chuckles.
"Well- open it! I wanna see what time your movie's playing!" Kandi excites.
"Heh heh! Calm down there, we don't even know if my screenplay got accepted." Feather notes.
She looks at the envelop. Of course she's always gotten a spot for her film in the plays ever since she was little, but… what if this one didn't make the cut? No… that was just the anticipation. Surely she was worried about nothing! She couldn't help but get a little tense every time she opened the letter though.
"We thank you kindly for your submission to the annual Clantopia Film Festival." Feather reads.
"All right!" Kandi shouts, hopping up.
"Kandi, dear. Let her finish." Cupie laughs.
"You script has been looked at, and we have decided…" Feather pauses. "Not… to include this piece in this year's festival. We encourage you to submit again next year. See you at the festival…"
"Festival!" Kandi reverbs. Feather sighs.
"Aw, it's alright Feather. Maybe they just… got too many submissions this year." Cupie assures her.
"Yeah. Too many submissions that were better then what I wrote."
"Feather!" Cupie scolds.
"Sorry." She says. "Guess I shouldn't be loathing. Um… I'm gonna head to bed early, alright?" Feather drags herself into her room, her eyes teary, and shuts her door.
"So, no festival?" Kandi asks.
Cupie shakes her head, sighs heavily, and makes her way down the hall.
She knocks on Melody's door. "Melody hun, are you making dinner tonight, or is that up to us? Feather's not eating."
Melody opens her door. "She's not? Does she not like what I cook, because-"
"No, it's not that." Cupie explains.
"Feather never eats when her plays gets rejected." Kandi chimes in. "You should make food anyway though, cause we can just force her to eat like last time!"
"No, don't do that." Techi says, entering the conversation now. "Is that what she's all upset about? Why didn't you guys tell me?"
"I just found out." Melody reasons.
"WE just found out." Cupie corrects. "She's really taking it hard, isn't she?"
Techi rolls her eyes. "That girl. What the hell is her problem?"
"You should really be more sympathetic, Techi. Writing means a lot to her." Melody warns her.
"You think I don't know that? God- some times I just wish she'd- oh!" Techi stammers, flying herself away.
"…Anyway." Melody says, breaking the awkward silence Techi left them with. "Harmony's at a birthday sleep-over tonight, so maybe it would be better if we all just did our own thing for food, rather then let a big meal go to waste."
"Exactly what I was thinking." Cupie nods.
"Aw- no!" Kandi wines. "All the food is bad! Bad bad bad! I don't wanna eat bad food!"
Cupie shrugs. "Wait until breakfast tomorrow then."
"Lunch." Melody corrects. "I have to go pick up Harmony tomorrow morning."
"Wheeeeh."
"Oh, hush!" Cupie says, glaring at Kandi. "You managed just fine before Melody started cooking for us, and you'll just have to figure it out again for the moment."
Kandi crosses her arms. "It's not fair! Why couldn't Feather's movie just get accepted?"
"Sorry you guys, but I gotta practice. See you tomorrow at lunch time, though." Melody says, and closes her door.
"Aw, lame." Kandi pouts. "Where we gonna eat then?"
Cupie shrugs. "I think I'll try making something myself actually. No reason to go out when we have groceries here, after all."
"But it's all un-cooked and icky." Kandi explains.
"That's why we have a stove. And an oven. And things we use to make food cooked." Cupie attempts to explain, but Kandi just isn't listening. "Maybe you should give it a try. You might actually be good at it, you know."
"Nuh uh. It's too hard." She huffs.
No matter how hard she tried, Kandi couldn't convince Cupie to take her somewhere. She knocks on Techi's door, asking her to join her at The Cloud, but Techi was too busy rambling off something or the other over her music, which was already loud. She knocks on Thiala's door next; the pony opens her door, and stares at Kandi, which is enough to send her away.
"Techi's too stubborn, Melody's too busy, Cupie's too Cupie…" Kandi sighs to herself as she slumps down the pathway. "Feather's too depressed, Thiala's too scary, and Kandi…" Her stomach growls. "Kandi's too hungry." She moans, and collapses onto the ground. "Wheeeeh…"
"Wheeeeh!"
She perks up. Before her was a little bird, pecking at her nose.
"Are you hungry too?" Kandi asks.
"Carissa, get back here!" A voice sounds. The bird flies up, only to be caught in a net by another pony.
Kandi gasps, getting to her feet. "Hey! You can't do that!"
The other pony looks at her. "Course I can. This little chickadee escaped; why, she wouldn't last a day out here all by her lonesome."
"Oh- I… I'm sorry. I didn't know she belonged to you."
"Hardly." The pony responds. "She belongs to adopt-a-petable, but being of the bird selection, she IS my responsibility."
"Adopt-a-whatables?" Kandi asks with a puzzled expression.
The other pony laughs. "You sure are a funny one. Why don't you come down take a look-see for yourself? Sarah made fresh cookies."
"Cookies?"
Kandi follows the pony, who had a beak as her cutie mark, to a ranch just past the school. Kandi observes the different animals; puppies and wolves, kittens and hyenas, and all sorts of pets caged off in different sections.
"Here's out aviary section. Everything from chicks to peregrine falcons… just about every breed, anyway. Lately some of the birds have been escaping… isn't that right Carissa?" The pony explains to Kandi, and releases the bird from the net.
"Wheeh!" The bird chirps, and the pony shuts the cage.
"Samaria!" Another pony calls from a small house nearby. "Don't tell me you let another bird get away, now."
"Sorry Sarah… they just find their way out during feeing time."
"Honestly, do you keep the cage open that long?" Sarah says with a glare.
"N-no! Not even! But they still make their way out just as easy." Samaria explains.
"Maybe they just don't like the food you're giving them, so they go out to look for their own." Kandi suggests.
Both Sarah and Samaria pause look at her. Kandi shrugs.
"Well, why didn't you say you were bringing friends over, Samaria? What's your name kid? Why don't you come in and join us for dinner?"
After introducing herself, Kandi follows the two inside. She meets Billy, Samaria's younger brother, and Cal, Sarah's husband.
"What's the matter Kandi?" Billy asks, poking her in the side. "You not hungry or somethin'?"
"Oh- no no no! It's not that, not that at all! I'm starving, in fact! It's just that the food is- Er- um… manners."
That's right, Kandi couldn't just say the food was bad. Cupie had explained to her something about having manners, and not blurting out her opinion.
"Manners?" Samaria questions.
Kandi freezes. "Er- uh- yeah. You know… It's the polite thing to do to wait for everypony to be seated before eating."
"Well this is everypony!" Sarah announces. "Dig in, Kandi! There's plenty more food for seconds if you're still hungry."
Kandi fake smiles, and looks down at her food. Her stomach growls. It smelled kinda bad… but, everyone else was eating. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad? She picks up her fork, and takes a bite.
"…oh!" Kandi says. "This… this is good!"
"Good?" Billy stammers. "It's yummytastic!"
Kandi laughs. "No, seriously. This food is good. What is this?"
"What is it? Well, it's stew, Kandi." Sarah answers. "Just a few ingredients I mixed up from the garden. I'm glad you like it."
After eating, Samaria offered to give Kandi a full tour of the animals. Sarah reminds her that it's almost bed time though.
"I could always come back for breakfast!" Kandi blurts. "Er- I mean, in the morning. You guys do eat breakfast in the morning, right?"
"Sure Kandi, you can stop by again tomorrow." Samaria laughs. "See you then!"
Techi knocks on Feathers doo for about the hundredth time that night. Or, banging on it, that is.
"I'm not going away until you talk to me, god damn it!" Techi demands.
"Please!" Thiala cries. "Make her stop! Just answer the god damn door."
Feather finally cracks the door open a little. Techi stops.
"It is quite rude of you to keep our roommates awake." She says, and shuts the door again.
"Feath-ER! Come on! FEATHER!" Techi shouts.
She doesn't respond.
"Fine. Don't let me in. I'll just say what I need to say from here."
Still, no reply.
"You're being stupid!"
"Thanks Techi. That makes me feel so much better." Feather groans from her room.
"Well I'm sorry, but it's true. And you know what else- your screenplay didn't get accepted. Big fricken deal. You need to-"
Loud music begins to blare from her room.
"I'M NOT DONE TALKING TO YOU!" Techi yells.
"GO AWAY!"
"HEY!"
The two pause. Feather turns off her music, and there's banging coming from the floor.
"I swear if you Clanadians don't shut the hell up, I'm putting in a complaint to- well, the Clanadians!" The voice calls from below. "So, be quiet!"
"See Feather, you woke up our neighbors." Techi huffs.
"Anypony care that they woke up Thiala? No? Never mind." Thiala grunts.
Techi rolls her eyes. "Let me in."
"No."
"Feather!"
"Techi!" Thiala shouts warningly, as Techi's volume increases.
"Kandi!" Kandi gleams, walking in the door.
Techi peeks down the hall. "Oh, hey."
"Techi, go to bed. I already feel bad enough, I don't need you making it worse." Feather warns from her room.
At first she thinks it worked. Techi had stopped knocking, yelling, and Feather assumed she'd left. A minute later, there's a rattling sound outside her door, and it opens.
"God damn it." Feather grunts.
"Really, I don't know why I didn't think of my lock picking kit hours ago." Techi notes to herself.
"Maybe because you were trying to keep everypony awake?" Thiala offers, and Techi closes the door.
She makes her way over to where Feather was on her bed; she had her face buried in her pillow, and wouldn't look at Techi.
"…Feather, come on. Is this really any way to be acting?"
"I can't believe how completely insensitive you're being, Techi." Feather mopes. "I thought you supported my writing."
"So what if I don't?"
Feather looks up.
"This is exactly what I'm trying to tell you. The film festival rejected your piece-"
"Thank you, for the reminder."
"-but who gives a fuck!"
Feather looks up.
"Were you even listening last weekend?" Techi says.
Last weekend… that was the big race. Techi competed in the finals, and placed last, just like she did last year.
…no, that's right. She was just fine with placing last because of something she overheard her idol saying the day before. Rainbow Dash was her name, she remembers. What was it that pony had said…?
Hey, it was just a streak of bad luck, huh? I'm sure I'll still have the fastest time of all the racers all in all
And then her friend told her something, too.
That's all that really should matter, right? As long as you're happy with your time, then who cares what anypony else thinks
Who cares… what anypony else thinks.
Feather sits up some. "Um, you're right Techi. I shouldn't be here loathing."
Techi smiles, and puts a hoof around her friend. "You worked hard on your play, and you were even proud enough of your work to submit it. Isn't that all that should matter? That you think it was good? I mean, just by picking out that one over all your others… that should be the reward, right?"
Feather smiles, and wipes a tear from her face. "Sure, Techi. I… I think it is."
"And just for the record, I really do support your writing."
"Oh, I don't give a fuck." Feather shrugs.
"Huh?!"
Feather laughs. "I'm just kidding! Of course I know you support me. I can't say the same for our neighbors though."
Techi shrugs. "Eh, they can appreciate my lock-picking skills. What matters is now is that you're feeling better- you are feeling better, right?"
Feather nods. "Yes. Thank you, Techi."
"Why don't we head on over to The Cloud, in that case? I'm pretty sure Kandi said something about going there."
"Oh- good. I'm quite hungry." Feather says.
"Kandi!" Techi calls as she and Feather come out of her room. "Kandi, we're going to The Cloud."
"Have fun!" Kandi calls back.
Feather and Techi give each other a confused look.
"…um, did you want to come with?"
"Why would I go eat? I just ate! I don't need to eat AGAIN." Kandi giggles.
"Does anypony ever have conversations that don't involve talking through doors?" Thiala moans.
"And what are you doing right now?" Feather challenges, smirking to herself.
"Trying to get you idiots to shut, UP." She wines.
Techi walks to the other side of Clan, and open's Kandi's door.
"What do you mean you already ate? Did Melody end up cooking?" Techi continues.
So Kandi goes on to explain all about the adopt-a-petable place; about the nice ponies, and the birds, and the food.
"And I'm going back tomorrow morning for seconds! Oh, and the ponies there are gonna give me a tour." She finishes.
"I think I've heard of that place." Feather ponders.
"Yeah, it's right next to that school that Harmony's going to." Techi adds. "I can't believe you ate farm food, Kandi!"
"I have to agree, that doesn't seem like something you would like." Feather agrees. "Wouldn't you rather have breakfast at The Cloud? You like their french toast, remember?"
"Does The Cloud have hundreds of cool birdies and stew?" Kandi says. "And besides, Techi doesn't like to eat breakfast foods."
"This is true." Techi states.
"Hm. Well, if Melody isn't cooking, then what do you say we head over to The Cloud tonight, and join Kandi on her farm tour tomorrow morning, hm?"
"Stew sounds good to me." Techi shrugs. "Alright, guess it's just you and me then chicka."
Feather nods. "Come wake us up in the morning, alright Kandi?"
"Absolutely!" Kandi replies.
Come next morning, a loud chirping sound awakens the Clanadians before Kandi can. Cupie's first to get up, and sees Kandi in the living room.
"What in the…"
"Chree- wree chree!"
Cupie spots a chickadee flying about.
"Kandi! Did you let this bird in?"
"Her name's Carissa, and yeah! I did!" Kandi gleams, jumping after the bird. "Chirp chirp chirp!"
The rest of the Clanadians had dragged themselves out of their rooms too to see what the commotion was.
"Kandi, there is this magical thing. It's known as sleep." Thiala explains. "You should really try it some time."
"Is that… is that a bird that's flying around up there?" Melody questions.
"It is!" Kandi replies. "I adoptedabled her!"
"Did we not ask to come with?" Techi reminds. "What time is it anyway?"
The bird flies over to Feather, and lands on her hoof when she holds it out. "Hey, she's kinda cute, huh?"
"Techi's right- how early is it? I have to pick up Harmony by eight."
"It's nearly five thirty." Thiala informs. "Why exactly were you adopting a pet at five thirty in the morning, Kandi?"
Once all the initial commotion settles down, and the bird is in her cage, Kandi goes on to tell Thiala, Cupie, and Melody about the ranch. And, of course, the food. Apparently they have breakfast early there. She tells them about how the bird escaped, and Samaria had to go find her again.
"She keeps escaping because she's picky about the bird seed she eats." Kandi continues. "Samaria says they switched to a more affordable brand, and Carissa and some of the other birds are having a hard time getting used to it."
"So you brought her here?" Cupie assumes.
"Well, yeah! There's great food here, and me and Carissa get along SO so well!"
"Kandi dear, birdies can't eat pony food." Melody explains. "They need a special mix that's right for their nutritional needs."
"Don't tell me. You make bird food." Thiala guesses.
"Actually-"
"Oh, great! Another thing Melody can do- that I'm sure she's just great at! How many ribbons has your bird food won? Like, ten?"
"Only one." Melody winces.
"Unbelievable- do you have to be such a freaking show off all the time? The nerve!" Thiala says, and returns to her room.
"Okay then." Cupie comments. "Well, there's also the matter of the contract's rules on having pets in the complex. As I'm sure you're aware, there are specific guidelines you must follow in order to-"
"Come on Carissa! Melody's gonna cook us some yummytastic bird foods!" Kandi exclaims, hopping into the kitchen.
"Huh. Well, ehm, I suppose I'll go ahead and add Carissa the Chickadee under your name then." Cupie shrugs, and leaves down the hall.
"Not that I mind making food for your bird, but I already told you I wasn't making breakfast this morning."
"Yeah, cause you said you had to pick up Harmony." Kandi reminds. "But it's not eight yet, and you got a whole bunch of time."
"Because you woke me up…" Melody sighs.
"You're welcome!"
Melody pauses. "Well, I don't exactly have all the necessary ingredients-"
"We'll deal with what we got." Kandi interrupts. "It's better than the food they were giving her before."
"Chree!" Carissa chirps in agreement.
"Er… well I-" Melody sighs. "Kandi… I'm tired. Can't your bird wait for lunch?"
"Nope! She's hungry, like, ten minutes ago!" Kandi explains.
"I'm not getting out of this, am I?" Melody sighs.
"Chree-kwee!"
"What she said." Kandi replies, and takes a seat at the counter.
A/N: Quite a long chapter today I guess! I'm actually looking for a pet of my own, but I'm not sure what to get since I missed the tour. Could anypony head over to my profile and vote on which pet you think I should get? There should be a link at the top of Medlie's profile page.
-Feather