The sound of the whistle is what awoke him. The train had stopped. He looked out the window. He had been asleep the entire ride from Canterlot and the scenery had changed dramatically. Instead of the grand white buildings of the city he was so used to, there were trees, green grass, and smaller, more old fashioned looking houses. He heaved a yawn and got up to reach for his luggage above his seat; everyone in the car had already grabbed their bags and cleared out. The door at the end of the train car opened and the attendant walked in. “Hey you!”
He looked at the attendant, bags in his mouth. “mrrff?”
“Yeah you, the unicorn with the freaky haircut,” Said the attendant, a brown earth pony with a black mane. “Time to get off with everypony else, trains’ leavin’ the station.” The unicorn frowned and walked off the train. As soon as his back hoof left the step, the locomotive starts up and moves away from the red wooden station. What he sees is a sight to behold. A small town with ponies going to and fro. A wide circular space with a official looking building at the center and around it were street venders, shops, and even a bakery labeled ‘Sugar Cube Corner’. ‘It all seems more… down to earth, in comparison with Canterlot.’ He thought. He opened one of his bags with magic and levitated a letter in front of his face. The unicorn swept his head sideways to move the bangs out of his eyes. The Stallion mane was long and somewhat spiky with part of it slanted over his left eye. The rest stuck out in every direction no matter how much he brushed it, and he wasn’t risking trying a spell on it either.
“Freaky haircut my hoof…” He muttered. He read the letter: To my dear student Din, if you are reading this, then that must mean you have arrived in Ponyville. First things first; another pupil of mine, Twilight Sparkle, lives in the town’s local library. You will need to speak to her, and then the both of you shall receive further details on your assignment. Afterwards, I’ll need you to deliver a few messages to the Mayor. Best of luck, Princess Celestia of Equestria Din rolled up the scroll and levitated back into his bag. He picked up both his bags with his mouth and swung it over his back. A bag resting on each side of his body. Trotting away from the train station, Din thought he might as well check in with this Twilight Sparkle. Celestia has talked about her before, and he had heard stories about the element of magic, but he had no idea what to expect when he met this mare. The rumbling in his stomach stopped him in his tracks which sounded like a ticked off lion. “Jeez Din, sometimes you even forget to feed yourself.” He said under his breath. His stomach growled. A blur of yellow flashed in front of Din, making him rear back in surprise.
“Scuse’ me sir, but ah couldn’t help but overhear your belly a’rumblin’ from all th’ way across the street!” Said a small filly with red hair tied big pink bow, “Would ya like to buy some apples?”
“Uhhh…” Din stared blankly.
“Applebloom!” A blond mare in a cowboy hat walked over the filly with a disapproving frown. “I know I told you to be more assertive with customers, but that doesn’t mean rushin’ up to em’ all in their face.”
Applebloom looked down at her hooves. “Sorry sis.”
The orange mare gave Din a half smile. “Sorry bout’ that mister.”
He chuckled. “Nah, that’s alright. I’m starving anyway and an apple or two sounds pretty good right about now.”
Applebloom perked up. “What would ya like sir?”
“Gimmie the best you got kiddo.” Din smiled. The little redhead filly rushed over to the stand across the street with a wooden sign above it that simply said: ‘Apples’ Din turned to the mare. “So I take it that’s your sister?” He asked.
“Sure is,” She held out her hoof. “I’m Applejack by the way.” He took it.
“Din.”
“Nice ta’ meet ya’ Din.” She grinned. Applejack looked him over, from his saddle bags, to the unicorn’s unusual hair. Then her eyes widened as she caught sight of his flank. “You…” She started.
“Don’t have a cutie mark.” Said Din flatly.
Applejack frowned. “Uh, yeah…”
“Weird ain’t it?” He joked half-heartedly. Din knew his flank was bare, as it was for years. While all his old classmates were discovering their talents and earning cutie marks of their own, Din remained a ‘blank flank’. Only when he grew older did his unusual trait interest Princess Celestia herself and he was invited to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Din’s entrance exam was just a few basic spells and exercises, but for the final test, he was to convert pieces of rubble into a statue. Apparently another student’s final exam was to hatch a dragon egg and things got a little out of hoof. Now part of the ceiling was missing, so there were plenty of raw materials lying around. Din was to stand in the middle of the room while four grim faced teachers sat in bleachers silently judging him from afar. To add to the pressure, Princess Celestia was there too, smiling encouragingly. After a few attempts, Din managed to make a mixed-matched sculpture of a majestic phoenix with a few spells and the debris. They accepted this and Din was enrolled as a student of magic. His studies mainly consisted of basic use of spells and magic origin, nothing too special. But it wasn’t until the princess visited him personally, did his research take a different path. She explained her great interest in his lack of a cutie mark and Din felt ashamed, like he hadn’t tried hard enough and let Celestia down. She simply laughed and assured him that there was nothing to be ashamed of. True, Din being without a cutie mark was strange, but quite a rare case indeed. Celestia urged him to study cutie marks as much as possible, their origin, discovery, purpose, and most importantly, how to find a way to earn one. It was an official assignment from the princess and Din accepted it without question. Upon departure, Celestia told him not to worry, that good things come to those who wait. Applebloom was back with a paper bag almost filled to the top with different kinds of apples.
“There ya’ go mister.” She said.
“Thanks,” Din’s stomach growled. “how much will that be?”
“It’s on th’ house.” Applejack tipped her hat.
“Really?”
She nodded. “Yep, think of it as a welcoming gift.”
Din smiled. “Well think of this as a tip.” He levitated ten bits from his bag and floated the coins onto the counter of their stand.
“Heh, thank yeh’ kindly.” Said Applejack gratefully.
“No problem,” Said Din. He stared longingly at the bag of food, wanting to stuff his face right then and there, but he had official business to attend to. “Hey, could you tell me where the library is?”
“Yeah,” Applejack pointed with her hoof off to the left. “just down yonder that a’ way past that there windmill, take a right, go around th’ restaurant with the four leaf clover on the sign, then it should be right next the house with th’ big chimney.”
“Alright, thanks.” Din looked to Applebloom, “and thank you for the apples.”
“Your welcome sir!” She grinned. Din waved goodbye to the two sisters and started walking in the direction Applejack directed him to go. They both waved back.
“Take care now!” Applejack shouted.
“You too!” He hollered back. He continued walking. Din pasted the town hall and made it to the windmill. He was about to turn right like what Applejack said but then bumped head first into somepony coming around the corner. He drew back in pain and saw a pink mare with matching color mane rubbing her head. “Oh my gosh, sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Din apologized. When the mare opened her eyes they widened. They darted to Din’s bags, them to him. A huge grin spread across her face.
“Oh, hi! Are you new around here?” She asked in a high squeaky voice. “I mean, I know everypony in Ponyville, but I haven’t seen you around before so that must mean you’re new!” The pink mare had closed the space between her and Din and was now in his face, smiling broadly.
“Uhhhh…” He started. Laughter sounded behind them.
“I see you found a new friend huh Pinkie pie?” Din looked past the giant poofy pink hairdo to find the source of the voice. It turned out to be purple mare with an even darker purple done up in a goth-style with highlights. The pink one, Pinkie pie, looked to the newcomer.
“Yeah Twilight,” She said excitedly. “looks like he’s visiting.” Pinkie turned back to him. “I can give ya a tour if you’d like!”
“That would be, nice.” Din gave her a lopsided smile. He looked to the purple mare. “So you’re Twilight? As in Twilight Sparkle?”
She nodded. “Yes, that would be me.”
“Oh great,” Said Din. “I was on my way to library to find you, But I guess… here you are.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You were looking for me?”
“Uh, yeah, I was sent by Princess Celestia, something about a special assignment?”
Her eyes widened and perked up at this.“Wait, Princess Celestia? You’re not Din are you?”
“Din? That’s a funny name.” Pinkie Pie giggled. Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes.
“Yeah I’m Din. Did Celestia also send you a letter?” Din asked.
Twilight nodded. “Maybe we should continue this conversation at the library.”
“Ooo! Can I come?” Pinkie beamed.
Twilight looked at her and pursed her lips. “Don’t you have to meet Rainbow Dash at Sugar Cube Corner this afternoon?”
She slapped her forehead. “Oh right! How could I forget about Dashie? See ya!” Pinkie flashed Din and Twilight a huge grin and bounced away in the direction where Din came from. Din could not help but smile at the strange poofy haired mare.
Twilight chuckled. “That’s Pinkie Pie for you.” She started walking. “Come on, let’s go see what Celestia has planned for us.”
Din followed.