Post by Apple Bloom on May 25, 2012 19:18:09 GMT -5
(&)=(&)=(&)=(&)=(&)=(&) =+= CANTERLOT =+= (&)=(&)=(&)=(&)=(&)=(&)
Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, is an aloof city built into the side of Canterlot Mountain. Its towers and spire soar majestically forth,defying gravity and expectations, the royal palace of the princesses foremost among its buildings. Up close, Canterlot is a place filled with clean, broad plazas, beautiful terraces, and shiny, bright stone buildings. The city is very old, but has a constantly refreshed air of newness.
Perhaps this is because of the pride of its citizens, who think of themselves as being at the intellectual and historical center of their country. Perhaps it's also because those citizens are predominantly unicorns, and heir magical talent is good for not just changing the seasons, but keeping their city clean. For whatever reason, the commercial district of Canterlot is filled with fascinating shops selling curios, inventions, magic items, spell scrolls, glassware, books, fine art, and quality hardware. It's a city of proud, intelligent ponies thrilled to be living so close to their benevolent ruler, Princess Celestia.
---
Marble is actually feeling pretty good these days. Well... since yesterday after he managed to do the cool thing and tell Blueblood off. He's actually *leaving* the palace on time for once instead of opting for an even longer shift in his office filing gratuitous paperwork. He's going to the pub to drink. Then maybe to the theater for some opera or ballet. He will have to see what is being performed tonight. His trot is a happy one as he heads away from the palace.
---
---
"GANGWAAAYyyyyyy! Cumulus com'n through!" Cumul-wha? There's a sudden sweep of damp, clammy fog from one end of the street to the other, wilting well pressed formal wear and paperwork and anything else that doesn't like humidity. Visibility drops to nothing; a foot away from a pony's face there's hazy cotton-fluff cloud.
---
Diminutive and petite, a pegasus mare scarcely taller than many foals, but sporting an impressive set of wide-pinioned wings that would perhaps look more natural upon an eagle or condor. With the silvery curls and ringlets of her mane lightly spilling from a blue goggle cap, and a trim denim flight suit covering much of her pearly, cloud-patterned hide, Merry cuts a more formidable figure than her height might otherwise suggest. Her movements are crisp and business-like; her blue eyes are often hidden behind tinted flight goggles. Because of her tiny stature, she tends to try and remain on eye level with other ponies, which involves a lot of hummingbird darting and hovering. A cutie mark of compass rose and cloud remains hidden under the Cloudsdale Weather Corps insignia of her flight suit; Motto: ~Ad Aetherem~.
---
Marble flails in surprise as it goes from nice in the afternoon to holy [BUY SOME APPLES] it's a little chilly and who can see anything? "Hello! Is anypony else there? I can't see!" The feeble bureaucrat reaches around, feeling about pathetically. He just needs to reach his pub. That's all. Just his pub.
"HI!" A little pegasus pops up in front of Marble, like some demented jack-in-the-box, saluting in a blur. Her goggles are down but let's face it, how many ponies are only that tall and dress like they're about to invade a foreign country? "Pardon our dust! Weather renovations are in effect! We are improving weather for /your comfort!/ Cloudsdale Weather Bureau! 'Because Into Each Life a Little Rain Must Fall!' (TM)"
Marble is, of course, so nervous and easily freaked out. "WAUGHPICKLEDBACONFRIES!" Marble falls over as the other pegasus pops up. After a few moments, he's back on his feet, and inching away from the weather planner. "Why is there a fog in Canterlot? It was such a nice day!"
Merryweather ignores Marble for a moment and starts shouting out into the murk. "Four degrees to the left! Up a half a pony! No, a taller pony!" It's hard to tell if the cloud is actually moving while you're inside it, though. "What!? This isn't fog! This is a Type Three High-moisture Cumulus! And you /call/ yourself a pegasus! HEY! SLIDE IT TWO DEGREES RIGHT AND START IT FORWARD!!"
"I do call myself a pegasus... I just don't call myself a weather pony." Marble is rather removed from that world. His dad more or less convinced him he didn't want to be in weather. "I-I don't even generally like to fly."
"CLOUD HO!!" shrieks Merryweather, high pitches and popping up high enough to vanish for a few moments. There's a little bit of swirling to the cloud, and after a moment it becomes evident it's moving down the street. After another few moments it starts to thin and it's possible to see the other pegasi pushing it from behind. They pass and the cloud continues off the side of the steep cliffs and begins moving away from the city on the mountainside. "Don't /like to fly!?/ Are you /CRAZY IN THE FACE AND TAIL!?/" That's Merry, suddenly two feet behind Marble-- yeah, she was still there, why?
Marble eeps. Backing away from the hyperactive pegasus in fear. "P... please don't hurt me. I-if I say I like to fly will you let me live?" Marble is afraid of strong personalities. Probably why he's not *the* bureaucrat in Canterlot, but *a* bureaucrat.
Merryweather is /a/ bureaucrat of Cloudsdale. They grow bureaucrats different there, son. "Good!" agrees the little pegasus, blurring around Marble several times as she orbits him at high speed. She stops long enough to peer with a hoof-shaded eye at the diminishing cloud, but they seem to have it headed the right way. "In fact! I'll take you up in my airship! You'll love it! The open skies! The fleecy clouds! The tottering gondola! The swaying ropes! You won't even have to flap a... uh, what are these things? Wings?" She zips behind him and attempts to examine his left wing by lightly pulling it to extension and giving it an experimental flap.
Marble would buy that argument had he not also been raised in Cloudsdale. He went to the schools there and earned a scholarship, one of the few pegasi to do so, to University of Canterlot. He chose to attend the School of Bureaucratic Science. Thing is... his personality is more like a unicorn's. Growing up in Cloudsdale, Marble was the kid who told the teacher she forgot to give out homework because he wanted it. "Um... okay. I love flying. Please don't hurt me." No, he still doesn't like to fly. His wings are still wrapped in bandages, in a bit of a soft cast. Due to his injuries when he was in ponyville seeking the Discord statue.
Merryweather isn't pulling hard enough to hurt the wings, of course, and she quickly takes his agreement for all she can. There's a warp-blur and she's in front of his face again. "GoooooD! Then it's agreed! I'll bring the airship here tomorrow! Up we'll go into the wild blue yonder! Whoo hoo! Bring lunch, they don't have delivery up there, yet, I'm working on that."
"I will bring some bran muffins." Marble's favorite food for lunch will probably make the fact he's in a strange airship [BUY SOME APPLES] scary less [BUY SOME APPLES] scary. Though he needs to of course, cover some bases. "Um... th-that contraption of yours... it... d-doesn't crash.... does it?"
"NOT YET!" glees Merry doing a few quick passes that gust at Marble's mane. "You're a pegasus! Hello!? Falling is optional! Sheesh!" Merry is planning a nutritious meal all her own! Rock candy! Lightning-zapped brownies! (Or as some call them, Chocolate Chars!) POPSICLES! Whee! She looks pretty pleased with the idea.
"But... those aren't meals. They're confections. And somewhat nauseating, I might add." Marble does not like sugar. Except for his recent taste acquisition in green apple lollipops. It had everything to do with being a colt for a short time. "I... I-I think I'll bring myself bran muffins."
"I'll bring some chocolate syrup for them!" Ew. Merry buzzes around a few more orbits and then pops up in front again. "This'll be a load of fun! Hoof me!" She thrusts a small foreleg into the air, expecting the terminally uncool Marble to hoof it.
Marble see the hoof raised in the air and stares a moment, then he gingerly raises a hoof and very weakly (And meekly) clops a hoof to hers. "L-like this? Is that what pegasi in Cloudsdale do these days? Back when I was a colt... hoofshaking was... adequate." Marble was perhaps the only colt in his class who greeted and celebrated with classmates with a firm handshake.
Merryweather smacks her hoof against it forcefully, CLOP! If not for her tiny size that might have been enough to knock Marble over or something. "Pfff, we'll get you into the swing of things, Mister Marble! You'll be a daredevil of the skies before you know it! I gotta buzz! Three tropical fronts to plan and we're short on Cumulonimbus Nines! Cloudsdale Weather Bureau! 'April Showers, Anytime!' (TM) BE HERE TOMORROW!" The last, punctuated by zipping up close to his nose and tapping with her hoof, before she warp-blurs away and upwards, vanishing from view.
Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, is an aloof city built into the side of Canterlot Mountain. Its towers and spire soar majestically forth,defying gravity and expectations, the royal palace of the princesses foremost among its buildings. Up close, Canterlot is a place filled with clean, broad plazas, beautiful terraces, and shiny, bright stone buildings. The city is very old, but has a constantly refreshed air of newness.
Perhaps this is because of the pride of its citizens, who think of themselves as being at the intellectual and historical center of their country. Perhaps it's also because those citizens are predominantly unicorns, and heir magical talent is good for not just changing the seasons, but keeping their city clean. For whatever reason, the commercial district of Canterlot is filled with fascinating shops selling curios, inventions, magic items, spell scrolls, glassware, books, fine art, and quality hardware. It's a city of proud, intelligent ponies thrilled to be living so close to their benevolent ruler, Princess Celestia.
---
Marble is actually feeling pretty good these days. Well... since yesterday after he managed to do the cool thing and tell Blueblood off. He's actually *leaving* the palace on time for once instead of opting for an even longer shift in his office filing gratuitous paperwork. He's going to the pub to drink. Then maybe to the theater for some opera or ballet. He will have to see what is being performed tonight. His trot is a happy one as he heads away from the palace.
---
---
"GANGWAAAYyyyyyy! Cumulus com'n through!" Cumul-wha? There's a sudden sweep of damp, clammy fog from one end of the street to the other, wilting well pressed formal wear and paperwork and anything else that doesn't like humidity. Visibility drops to nothing; a foot away from a pony's face there's hazy cotton-fluff cloud.
---
Diminutive and petite, a pegasus mare scarcely taller than many foals, but sporting an impressive set of wide-pinioned wings that would perhaps look more natural upon an eagle or condor. With the silvery curls and ringlets of her mane lightly spilling from a blue goggle cap, and a trim denim flight suit covering much of her pearly, cloud-patterned hide, Merry cuts a more formidable figure than her height might otherwise suggest. Her movements are crisp and business-like; her blue eyes are often hidden behind tinted flight goggles. Because of her tiny stature, she tends to try and remain on eye level with other ponies, which involves a lot of hummingbird darting and hovering. A cutie mark of compass rose and cloud remains hidden under the Cloudsdale Weather Corps insignia of her flight suit; Motto: ~Ad Aetherem~.
---
Marble flails in surprise as it goes from nice in the afternoon to holy [BUY SOME APPLES] it's a little chilly and who can see anything? "Hello! Is anypony else there? I can't see!" The feeble bureaucrat reaches around, feeling about pathetically. He just needs to reach his pub. That's all. Just his pub.
"HI!" A little pegasus pops up in front of Marble, like some demented jack-in-the-box, saluting in a blur. Her goggles are down but let's face it, how many ponies are only that tall and dress like they're about to invade a foreign country? "Pardon our dust! Weather renovations are in effect! We are improving weather for /your comfort!/ Cloudsdale Weather Bureau! 'Because Into Each Life a Little Rain Must Fall!' (TM)"
Marble is, of course, so nervous and easily freaked out. "WAUGHPICKLEDBACONFRIES!" Marble falls over as the other pegasus pops up. After a few moments, he's back on his feet, and inching away from the weather planner. "Why is there a fog in Canterlot? It was such a nice day!"
Merryweather ignores Marble for a moment and starts shouting out into the murk. "Four degrees to the left! Up a half a pony! No, a taller pony!" It's hard to tell if the cloud is actually moving while you're inside it, though. "What!? This isn't fog! This is a Type Three High-moisture Cumulus! And you /call/ yourself a pegasus! HEY! SLIDE IT TWO DEGREES RIGHT AND START IT FORWARD!!"
"I do call myself a pegasus... I just don't call myself a weather pony." Marble is rather removed from that world. His dad more or less convinced him he didn't want to be in weather. "I-I don't even generally like to fly."
"CLOUD HO!!" shrieks Merryweather, high pitches and popping up high enough to vanish for a few moments. There's a little bit of swirling to the cloud, and after a moment it becomes evident it's moving down the street. After another few moments it starts to thin and it's possible to see the other pegasi pushing it from behind. They pass and the cloud continues off the side of the steep cliffs and begins moving away from the city on the mountainside. "Don't /like to fly!?/ Are you /CRAZY IN THE FACE AND TAIL!?/" That's Merry, suddenly two feet behind Marble-- yeah, she was still there, why?
Marble eeps. Backing away from the hyperactive pegasus in fear. "P... please don't hurt me. I-if I say I like to fly will you let me live?" Marble is afraid of strong personalities. Probably why he's not *the* bureaucrat in Canterlot, but *a* bureaucrat.
Merryweather is /a/ bureaucrat of Cloudsdale. They grow bureaucrats different there, son. "Good!" agrees the little pegasus, blurring around Marble several times as she orbits him at high speed. She stops long enough to peer with a hoof-shaded eye at the diminishing cloud, but they seem to have it headed the right way. "In fact! I'll take you up in my airship! You'll love it! The open skies! The fleecy clouds! The tottering gondola! The swaying ropes! You won't even have to flap a... uh, what are these things? Wings?" She zips behind him and attempts to examine his left wing by lightly pulling it to extension and giving it an experimental flap.
Marble would buy that argument had he not also been raised in Cloudsdale. He went to the schools there and earned a scholarship, one of the few pegasi to do so, to University of Canterlot. He chose to attend the School of Bureaucratic Science. Thing is... his personality is more like a unicorn's. Growing up in Cloudsdale, Marble was the kid who told the teacher she forgot to give out homework because he wanted it. "Um... okay. I love flying. Please don't hurt me." No, he still doesn't like to fly. His wings are still wrapped in bandages, in a bit of a soft cast. Due to his injuries when he was in ponyville seeking the Discord statue.
Merryweather isn't pulling hard enough to hurt the wings, of course, and she quickly takes his agreement for all she can. There's a warp-blur and she's in front of his face again. "GoooooD! Then it's agreed! I'll bring the airship here tomorrow! Up we'll go into the wild blue yonder! Whoo hoo! Bring lunch, they don't have delivery up there, yet, I'm working on that."
"I will bring some bran muffins." Marble's favorite food for lunch will probably make the fact he's in a strange airship [BUY SOME APPLES] scary less [BUY SOME APPLES] scary. Though he needs to of course, cover some bases. "Um... th-that contraption of yours... it... d-doesn't crash.... does it?"
"NOT YET!" glees Merry doing a few quick passes that gust at Marble's mane. "You're a pegasus! Hello!? Falling is optional! Sheesh!" Merry is planning a nutritious meal all her own! Rock candy! Lightning-zapped brownies! (Or as some call them, Chocolate Chars!) POPSICLES! Whee! She looks pretty pleased with the idea.
"But... those aren't meals. They're confections. And somewhat nauseating, I might add." Marble does not like sugar. Except for his recent taste acquisition in green apple lollipops. It had everything to do with being a colt for a short time. "I... I-I think I'll bring myself bran muffins."
"I'll bring some chocolate syrup for them!" Ew. Merry buzzes around a few more orbits and then pops up in front again. "This'll be a load of fun! Hoof me!" She thrusts a small foreleg into the air, expecting the terminally uncool Marble to hoof it.
Marble see the hoof raised in the air and stares a moment, then he gingerly raises a hoof and very weakly (And meekly) clops a hoof to hers. "L-like this? Is that what pegasi in Cloudsdale do these days? Back when I was a colt... hoofshaking was... adequate." Marble was perhaps the only colt in his class who greeted and celebrated with classmates with a firm handshake.
Merryweather smacks her hoof against it forcefully, CLOP! If not for her tiny size that might have been enough to knock Marble over or something. "Pfff, we'll get you into the swing of things, Mister Marble! You'll be a daredevil of the skies before you know it! I gotta buzz! Three tropical fronts to plan and we're short on Cumulonimbus Nines! Cloudsdale Weather Bureau! 'April Showers, Anytime!' (TM) BE HERE TOMORROW!" The last, punctuated by zipping up close to his nose and tapping with her hoof, before she warp-blurs away and upwards, vanishing from view.