~Chapter 4: Getting Started on a New Life~
When I awoke the next day, I felt fresh as a daisy. The nurses were surprised at this, considering how hard I worked the day before, but they were fine with taking me for another walk. This time, however, they thought it best to take me to the town hall and introduce me to the mayor before I got distracted by something else. I smiled and blushed a little when they said this, but I agreed that it made sense in the long run.
Miss Redheart and I set out for the town hall straight away, and it did not take long to reach. Upon entering, the first thing that caught my eye; scrolls EVERYWHERE, all organized into individual cubbies with a ponies name written under each cubby. Upon further inspection, all of the cubbies were grouped under different names. I assume they are street names, so that the delivery ponies can know where to drop the mail off. Numerous pegasus ponies were flitting about, putting letters in some cubbies and removing them from others before flying out one of the town hall's windows to do one of their deliveries.
There was one mare working at a desk in the middle of the room, reading through paperwork, signing where necessary, directing ponies around, managing the township. I instantly recognized her as the Mayor Mare; the grey mane, tan coat, and blue librarians glasses were hard to mistake.
The nurse and I trotted up to the desk and waited for the busy mare to have a moment to speak with us. After a few seconds where she finished reading a paper and signed it before handing it off to another pony she looked up at us smiling. "Good morning Nurse! How are you?"
The nurse smiled back. "Im just fine Miss Mayor. How about you?"
"Oh, I'm good! Just more mountains of paperwork." The two of them share a little laugh, and the mayor turns to me. "So who might you be? You are new to Ponyville; I don't recognize you."
I smile at her and offer a hoof to shake. "My name is Ink; it is a pleasure to meet you."
She takes the offered hoof and smiles. "Likewise." A pony quickly ran over to the mayor and asked her a question in a hushed voice, to which she nodded her assent. He nodded back and took off again, depositing a scroll in a slot and flying out one of the windows with his saddlebags. "I apologize for the interruption; how may I assist you Mr. Ink and Nurse Redheart?"
"Well, I am looking to become a more permanent resident here in Ponyville, but will need work to make a living. Do you happen to know of any job openings?"
She smiles and pulls a sheet of paper out of her desk and places in front of me. "Well, yes, a few establishments here in Ponyville dropped off some information on positions available. Here, have a look yourself."
I smile in thanks and look down at the sheet. I start to skim it, not really knowing what I'm looking for, but I knew it when I saw it.
Sweet Apple Acres - Looking for pegasus pony to transport goods
I look back up to the mayor and nurse grinning. "Well, I think I found exactly what I need. Thank you very much. Is there a hotel or a like building for me to stay in until I have enough currency for a house?"
Nurse Redheart nodded her head in assent. "Yes, there is a hotel right across the street from the library."
My smile gets broader. "Well, that is even more perfect. I will have to check in there when released from the hospital."
The mayor replies with a smile still on her face. "Absolutely! Well, I should return to my duties, but as I said, it was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Ink! I will see you again soon to see how you are adjusting to life in Ponyville! Goodbye!" She shook my hoof again and returned to the duty of running the village. The nurse and I head back out the door of the town hall and continue my tour.
~
"Well! Thats done now." Twilight Sparkle said after her and Spike finished cleaning the bookshelves, and the two of them went to the kitchen. Spike prepared a quick daisy sandwich for Twilight and grabbed a couple topaz for himself and they sat down to their quick snack. "Oh, by the way Spike, I was hoping you could help me write another letter to the Princess."
"Sure Twilight!" Spike said, grabbing a sheet of paper and a quill from the middle of the table. He left these supplies everywhere in the house, in preparation for when ever Twilight remembered to get him to write a letter. Despite her lists and organization, there was the occasional thing that slipped her mind or interesting revelations, verging on epiphanies.
Twilight smiled at the baby dragon, and proceeded to dictate her letter. "Dear Princess Celestia: I find myself delighted in the fact that I have acquired a new friend. His name is Ink, and his is a strange case.
"He recently received some form of head trauma, resulting in something akin to amnesia, according to what he says. He has no memories of being a pony, but everything about him seems to be intact otherwise. He has a similar love of books, but had a strange reaction when I offered him a certain book; he acted as though he knew the series already, and usually in instances like this with amnesia, a memory was restored. He had no such instance; he simply knew what the book was, and about the rest of the series.
"This is only meant to be a quick letter, no lessen about friendship learned; just a new friend. I look forward to being able to see you again.
"Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."
Spike finished writing the purple ponies name and rolled up the letter, wrapping a ribbon around it, and breathed a gout of green fire onto it, sending it off to the Princess. "There we go!" Spike smiled at Twilight, but then he got a bit of a quizzical expression. "Wait, who's this Ink?"
"He is new to Ponyville. He stopped by yesterday and borrowed a series of books. You were out assisting Rarity at the time." Spike's eyes glazed over for a second, and a smile spread across his lips. Twilight rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Spike! Your daydreaming again!"
He snapped back to the present, shaking his head for a second. "Huh, what? Oh, thanks Twilight." He grinned sheepishly before finishing his last gem.
Twilight also finished her last bite of the sandwich and got down from the chair. She started to walk out of the kitchen with Spike in tow, when a familiar belch of fire left the dragon. Twilight lifted to the scroll from the air after it materialized, with a confused expression on her face. "Odd, we just sent the letter. The princess must have had a break from her royal duties. . ." The unicorn opened the letter and began to read.
To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle:
I just received your letter, and am very interested by this pony Ink that you mentioned. I have also been wishing to see you again, and I have a break form my royal duties tomorrow. I shall come down to visit, and would appreciate if you sent this newcomer an invitation for tomorrow.
Your loving mentor,
Princess Celestia
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I kinda took, shall we say, 'artistic liberty' with the description of the interior of the town hall. My vision of it is somewhat inspired by the game Animal Crossing: Wild World, where the post office and town hall are the same building, but I used it as more of a mailing hub; all letters to Ponyville run through it before being delivered by Derpy and other mail ponies. Also, I took liberties when it came to the Mayor's personality.
Also, attempt at suspense. Hope it worked. :P