Chapter Three: An Un-fur-tunate Cat-astrophe
The Monday following the second date blessed Comet Burst with a commission that would provide him with a generous income. While he wanted to spend another day out of the weekend with Ms. Harshwhinny, his project demanded a tremendous amount of time to justify its price. He was grateful Canterlot had no shortage of wealthy ponies willing to spend their money on a luxury like art.
Comet Burst’s studio took up half of the living room, one half dedicated to painting. A deep farmhouse sink built into the wall separated both halves, its once pristine white surface tainted by a myriad of faded stains in multiple colors. The hardwood floor, too, was flecked by dried paint in the vicinity of the easel. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with acrylic, oil, and watercolor paints. On the other side sat a oak desk, its drawers holding graphite and colored pencils, pens, markers, pastel sticks, and assorted tools. On top of the desk sat a stack of sketchbooks and partially finished drawings. Standing at its side was a bookshelf filled with art books and additional sketchbooks, the heaviest stored at the bottom to anchor it in place.
A couch and a pair of chairs on each side separated the art studio from the rest of the living space. Despite the separation, pencils and papers were still strewn across the floor. There were no photographs on the walls. Instead, drawings and paintings in various mediums of family members, a few friends, and his parrot were prominently displayed.
Layer upon layer of brilliant acrylics were applied to the bleak face of a canvas. During drying periods, the stallion lavished attention and affection onto his blue Quaker parrot. The piece ate into the weekend and consumed another half-week before it was completed. Meticulously attentive to the minuscule details, he was left mentally exhausted. He spent the rest of his weekdays taking it easy.
Friday bowed out and made way for Saturday. Rejuvenated, Comet Burst precipitated himself to the commodious cage that housed the bird. Bare wooden blocks and crumpled balls of paper were dropped into the cage and foraging toys swapped out to provide entertainment while the unicorn was out.
“You be a good boy for Daddy, okay, Eggroll?”
The bird ceased his assault on the paper ball to glance up at his owner. He briefly pondered over the pony’s words and resumed tearing into the paper with his beak.
Upon arriving at Ms. Harshwhinny’s doorstep and greeting her in his usual friendly manner, Comet Burst explained his prolonged absence. The mare felt mild intrigue when he revealed himself to be a self-employed artist. Now the trip to the art gallery and the mess of papers in his home she had caught a glimpse of on their first date made sense. A leisurely walk in the park was suggested by the stallion. It did sound relaxing, so she complied.
Nestled near the outskirts, the park served as a natural oasis among the expanse of architecture. A cobblestone path cut into the park, supplying a clear route past a display of flora, over a stream that snaked through, and encircled a duck pond. Side-by-side, Ms. Harshwhinny and Comet Burst were guided by the path, their gazes wandering and admiring the landscape.
“I think some new flowers were planted since I was last here,” Comet Burst spoke up, his gaze frozen upon spots of yellow, red, orange, pink, purple, green, and white.
Ms. Harshwhinny halted as the unicorn did, following his line of vision. Her eyes lit up in recognition. “Ah, yes. Those are zinnias.”
“Zinnias. Hope I can remember that. Those would look good in artwork.” He focused more intently on the blooms. “I prettied up a lot of stuff with flowers, but I can never remember what the flowers I draw are called.”
“I can always remind you,” the mare passively offered, admiring the zinnias’ iridescence.
“I’d appreciate that. I’m already gettin’ ideas.” The unicorn’s mind reeled with possibilities. The quantity of colors they came in would guarantee their versatility. “You like flowers?”
“You could say that I have an affinity for flowers,” she affirmed.
Comet Burst opened his mouth to speak, but words failed to pass his lips. A sudden rustle from the zinnias startled him and Ms. Harshwhinny. Wide-eyed, the equines recoiled and put space between themselves and the flowers. The blossoms shook again before the creature hidden beneath them pounced. A silver-furred mare with a white tail donning a mascot head depicting a silver tabby with exaggerated doe eyes and a mouth in the shape of a rounded W. Her cutie mark was an exact replication of her mask, with the addition of a pink blush plastered over the cat’s cheeks.
“Nyaaa!” she squealed, voice in a high pitch. Planting herself before Comet Burst and Ms. Harshwhinny, her shrill voice took on a panicked tone. “Tasukete!”
Overcoming the unforeseen surprise, concern washed over their features. The mare and stallion turned to each other, their collective minds processing the situation.
“Nyaaa! Watashi o tasuketekudasai!” the shrill voice of the cat-pony pulled their attention back to her. “Watashi no neko wa ki ni tachiojo shite imasu!”
“Okay, I understood a few of those words.” Comet Burst’s face scrunched up in concentration as he attempted to understand what the cat-pony was attempting to convey. “I learned some Japonese from watchin’ anime, but I’m far from fluent.”
“She said her cat is stuck in a tree,” Ms. Harshwhinny deciphered, earning an utterly baffled reaction from the stallion. She closed the distance between herself and the other mare, expressing more pronounced concern. She wouldn’t admit it, but she did have a soft spot reserved for animals. “Take us to the poor creature.”
“Hai! Kochiradesu!” Whirling around, Cat-Pony broke into a swift gallop down the path. Comet Burst and Ms. Harshwhinny followed, strenuously pumping their legs just to keep up with the swift-footed mare.
“Where’d ya learn…to speak Japonese?” Comet Burst panted, fleetingly averting his eyes to Ms. Harshwhinny.
“Learning several languages…is a requirement for a well-traveled pony…such as myself,” the golden-maned mare replied, keeping her gaze glued to the equine in front of them.
“That’s pretty awesome!” the azure unicorn complimented on an expelled huff.
Ms. Harshwhinny did not reply, choosing to save her breath for the jaunt to the aforementioned tree. She had been athletic in her younger years, but she was still spry past her prime. Cat-Pony brought them to a healthy maple tree standing proudly by the duck pond. Comet Burst stumbled, legs searing from the exertion. Legs threatening to give away beneath his weight, he planted his haunches onto the plush grass. Ms. Harshwhinny experienced only a slight burn in her legs. The pair waited for Cat-Pony to point out the location of her feline, their sides heaving with each winded pant.
“Miyu-chan!” Cat-Pony extended a foreleg and pointed her hoof at an outstretched bough well out of their reach. A partially grown silver tabby resembling the mare’s mask and cutie mark was holding on for her dear life, eyes wide with pronounced terror.
“Miyu,” the kitten mewled, voicing her predicament to the equines below.
A greater amount of sympathy flooded the hearts of Comet Burst and Ms. Harshwhinny. Breathing rate regulated, the stallion rose from his flanks, he and his companion approaching the foot of the tree.
“This shouldn’t be too difficult,” Ms. Harshwhinny said. “All you really need to do is utilize your magic.”
Comet Burst’s eyes sprang open wide, his ears swiveling back as he was abruptly overcome with embarrassment. “Yeah…I would, but…I can’t.”
Ms. Harshwhinny and Cat-Pony jerked their attention away from the feline. The brown-furred mare’s face manifested an incredulous masque. “What do you mean you can’t? You’re a unicorn!”
Espying other ponies strolling by, the unicorn curled inwards in a reflection of self-consciousness. “I mean I can’t, okay? I’ll explain when we’re alone, with no other ponies around.”
Her visage softened. Did this unicorn really mean he was incapable of using magic? It would be a viable excuse as to why she had yet to witness him use magic. She couldn’t begin to fathom how it would feel to be a unicorn without the ability to cast magic.
“If ya climbed on my shoulders and I stood up, I think we can reach kitty,” Comet Burst diverted, his eyes returning to the kitten.
Ms. Harshwhinny decided not to press the matter. She would coax an explanation out of him eventually. His suggestion made her uncomfortable, her mind invoking images of herself falling from his shoulders and sustaining an injury. She doubt the Canterlot Fire Department would bother assisting them when ordinary citizens were capable of helping the cat. Her mind failed to conjure a better plan.
“I suppose that will work.” She trained a warning glare on the stallion, who shrank beneath it. “Do. Not. Drop me.”
Comet Burst nodded vigorously. Straightening out, he dropped into a crouch to grant Ms. Harshwhinny easy access to his back and shoulders. He winced as hooves prodded and dug into tender areas. Slowly rising, he turned to face the tree. The sturdy trunk supported him as they ascended to their hind hooves. The mare reached for the cat, her hooves a few inches short of her goal.
“Can ya reach kitty?” Comet Burst inquired, his view obscured by the earth pony’s body.
“Not quite.” She dared to lean in further, her stomach lurching from the anticipation of a fall as she wavered. The mare’s balance was retained. Soft hairs tickled her outstretched hooves the instant they grazed the feline’s paws.
The kitten shied and arched her back, eliciting a frustrated groan from Ms. Harshwhinny. The furry creature bunched up, wide eyes calculatingly observing. Into the air she leaped, landing on the mare’s head. Downward she scaled, needle-like claws nearly puncturing Comet Burst’s skin. The gripping at the sensitive flesh covering his ribs sent pain coursing through his nerves. A shrill yelp escaped the confines of his throat, jumping aback and unintentionally launching Ms. Harshwhinny into the pond. The cat left the stallion before he met the ground, bounding over to her owner.
“Miyu-chan!” Cat-Pony rejoiced, forelegs wide open and waiting to embrace the feline.
Comet Burst scrambled to his hooves and found Ms. Harshwhinny standing knee-deep in water. Drenched and dripping, her expression reverted back to it’s usual irascibility. Her nostrils flared and quivered to expel a snort.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Cat claws are sharp!” he profusely apologized, bustling into the water with her.
Her physiognomy sharpened into a scowl. Comet Burst’s ears flattened against his skull, tentatively raising a hoof in preparation to assist her. He never got a chance, nor were either of them bestowed the opportunity to reply. Cat-Pony dashed into the water to throw her forelegs around their necks.
“Arigatogozaimashita!” Cat-Pony squeezed them, breaking away after a moment elapsed.
Comet Burst and Ms. Harshwhinny watched her take her leave with her cat. The gratitude they received did nothing to soothe the mare’s vexation. The blue unicorn lifted his hoof once more, guiding it to her sleeved foreleg.
“Come on. Let’s get ya home before ya catch a cold.” His offer to assist her was not accepted. She leaned away from him, hoof rising from the water in preparation to swat it away. He stepped aback to allow her space. “Or…you can do it yourself. You’re a big girl. You know your way home. See ya maybe next week.”
Ms. Harshwhinny observed his departure. She had been awaiting an explanation for the stallion’s lack of magic, but she would receive a visitation from him soon. He would be questioned during their next meeting.