Upon waking up the next day, I was surprised at the atmosphere that had been presented to me. It was calm, serine, and almost completely silent. I couldn't help but notice the ease of rest I had experienced prior to my awakening, the scene set on the nights of Manehattan was nothing near as peaceful, with the typical city racket and the commotion of the occasional cart chase.
The greeting of this Ponyville morning was much more to my liking.
As I got out of bed I thought for a moment about the previous night with Derpy. Were ponies really bothered by her eyes? It’s almost as if somepony gave her a hard time in the past due to them or perhaps still does.
I didn't ponder on it for too long. There were things to do, ponies to see and I planned to get to know some of the Ponyville landmarks. So without further ado I got up, ate breakfast, brushed my mane and tail, grabbed a few bits off the kitchen counter and stopped to think of whether there was anything else I needed to do before I left.
“Oh, the curtains of course!”
Even though I liked the darkness most of the time, I figured that I might need to let some light into the house in case I had anything to work on later.
I went to the upstairs windows and opened the curtains. I had set up a small study area consisting of a desk, chair and bookcase on the upstairs floor that was overlooked by a small window in the roof of the house. The location of the window was extremely convenient because not only would it provide plenty of light when needed, but I could also look up to the stars for inspiration when it was called for.
The house became flooded with light, which seemed to beam through each and every one of the windows with lustrous brilliance.
With the house illuminated and everything I needed to hand, I ventured to the front of the house and opened not only the door, but also the opportunities of the new day.
As soon as I turned around from locking the front door, the first event of the day struck me like a fluffy pink bullet.
“Hi! Your new here right? I’m Pinkie Pie, how you doing?”
I had to pause for a moment. The frantic forwardness of this mare had almost caused me to recoil, but I soon formulated a response.
“Why yes, I am new here and I’d say I’m doing well, thanks.” I replied, flattered by her interest.
“That’s great! I always greet new ponies because I love making new friends! There’s nothing better than making new friends, don’t you think? I always meet such wonderful ponies, well except for that one griffon I met; she was really mean to everyone. So what’s your name? Where are you from?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with glee.
Pinkie Pie seemed to speak in fast-forward and appeared to be a pony all about function.
“My name is Night Spark, and I’m from Manehattan. I’m here in Ponyville for a new life away from the troubles of the city. By the way which landmarks in the town would you recommend?” I asked inquisitively.
“Well off the top of my head, there’s Rarity’s boutique on the other side of town, she’s the best tailor you’ll meet here in Ponyville. Ooh! I've got to go or I’ll miss super great fun with Applejack! I’ll see you later!”
“Okay thank you very mu-.” I stopped halfway through my sentence because by the time I could utter a word in response, I noticed that she was gone just as suddenly as she appeared earlier.
At least before she left Pinkie Pie had given me an idea of where I should visit first but I couldn't help but comment “What just happened?” I mean I thought Derpy was cheerful but Pinkie Pie was something different. Pinkie Pie’s happiness levels seemed to border on the insane.
Nonetheless, I set off on my way to Rarity’s boutique with high hopes that her apparel would live up to expectations or even surpass them.
Within the next ten minutes I had arrived at Rarity’s shop, which was presented like a work of art to the world with very intricate designs along the exterior of the building. This made me think that Rarity must be quite the perfectionist.
I proceeded to enter the boutique.
The interior of the establishment greeted me with a heavenly glow. Everything in the hall seemed perfect: the colours, the layout, the décor, it all helped to create a very regal atmosphere. It was as if anyone could feel like royalty just by entering the building. Just before I could become truly engrossed in the features of the shop, a very classy sounding came from across the hall.
“May I help you sir?”
I turned my head to face this pony, whose coat was as white as hearths warming snow and mane was of an alluring purple. I tried not to gawk at the overwhelming beauty of this mare, so I briskly responded.
“Yes please, I was hoping to buy some new gear.” I replied.
“Okay, any particular idea of occasions you want it for or what you’ll be using it for?” Rarity enquired. She seemed to be seeking specific uses until she asked “What do you plan to do in the future? That may give me a better idea.”
Simply explaining some of my future plans seemed much easier than having to come up with a use on the spot.
“Well I do plan to work on my magic in the near future.” I explained.
“Say no more darling, if you’re going to perform magic you simply must have some robes!” Rarity said excitedly. “Ooh and it might be worth speaking to my friend Twilight; she lives in the library not far from here and is a fantastic wizard. Now then, I’ll get started on those robes. Come back in about three days and I’ll have them ready for you”. I was surprised that Rarity had not even hinted at any sort of cost.
“Thanks very much Rarity, I’ll see you then.” I responded before leaving the shop. Since Rarity had given me the idea, I set out visit Twilight, who Rarity had claimed to be Ponyville’s greatest wizard.
As I cantered over to the Ponyville library, I retained high hopes of this twilight character and was anxious to find out whether this seemingly renowned magician was all that Rarity said she was. I had become lost in thought over the idea of the capabilities of this particular unicorn as I had met with a fair few spell casters in the past; however none of them had a reputation that preceded them.
In a matter of minutes I had arrived at the Ponyville library which to my surprise, was made up of a gargantuan tree. I walked over to the front door but as I did, I could hear a commotion from the inside. I knocked with caution.
After a few knocks, a voice came from within; “Spike! Could you answer that for me?” and a few moments later, the door was opened.
At first, I couldn't see anyone and thought that the door had perhaps blown open but there was no feeling of any breeze at that time.
“Down here.”
I looked down and there stood a baby dragon with purple scales and green eyes and spines. The dragon looked up at me with a scowl over its reptilian eyes.
“Hello, you must be Spike. I was told to come and see somepony by the name of Twilight.” I stated. I got straight to the point because frankly, Spike did not seem to have much patience.
“Yeah, that’s me. I’m afraid you’ve caught us at a bad time, you see-…”
Spike was interrupted by the very same voice I heard from outside.
“Who is it, Spike?”
“A visitor for you!” Spike replied with a shout.
“Hang on, I’ll be right there!” the unknown equine exclaimed.
After a brief period of waiting, I could hear hoof steps coming down a set of stairs hurriedly and within the next few seconds, I was face-to-face with a mare who had a light purple coat, perhaps a shade darker then lilac and a mane that consisted of a dark blue (which was fairly similar to my own, only hers had a stripe of purple and stripe of pink running through it).
“Hello, can I help you?”
“Are you the one known as Twilight?” I inquired.
“Yes, I’m Twilight Sparkle, what can I do for you?” She replied. Twilight seemed surprised by the fact that I knew her name.
“Well, part of the reason I came to Ponyville was so that I could do more to study and practice magic, Rarity said it might be worth speaking to you.” I said cheerfully.
Twilight gave a sigh of dismay before responding; “I wish I could help, but right now I’m up to the tip of my horn in work.”
“Oh that’s okay, it’s no problem, some other time perhaps?” I asked with a tinge of disappointment.
Twilight seemed to have some sort of brainwave as she clapped her hooves and went wide-eyed with excitement.
“I have an idea, how about I let you borrow a few books for you to read up on magic, until I’m done with all my work?” Twilight questioned with glee.
“Sure that works.” The offer had made me perk up and I now looked forward to flicking through some material on magic. This was just how I’d have wanted to get started.
“Great, take these books and come to see me again in about… three days.” Twilight stated happily as she handed me a stack of several books.
“Thank you very much; I’m sure I will learn a lot from these. See you in three days!” I called whilst leaving the library.
I shut the door of the library behind me out of courtesy, in order to let Twilight get straight back to her work. I had left my saddlebags at home, so I had to balance the books on my back as started to make my way to my house. All was calm and I thought that nothing could go wrong for the rest of the day but as I began moving away from the library, I found myself being struck down to the ground by something.
I had been hit with tremendous force and the books I had been carrying were scattered all around from the impact. Before I could even react, I felt myself being held down by somepony. When I looked up I found that I was being restrained by a light blue Pegasus with a rainbow coloured mane, glaring down on me menacingly.
“And just what do you think you’re doing?” The Pegasus asked aggressively.
“I’m not doing anything, what do you think you’re doing?” I replied
“Listen wise guy, what are you doing with all those books?”
By this point, I had realized that it was a mare I was talking to, but she was very tomboyish which at first, led to some confusion as to her gender with me thinking that she was male. However it mattered little, as I had to swiftly explain myself.
“Look I just...” Before I could give my response I could hear Rarity screaming. Both I and my assailant turned our heads to face her.
“Rainbow Dash! What are you doing? Let that poor gentlecolt go this instant!” Rarity declared sternly.
Now free from the pegasus’s grasp, I proceeded to clamber back up and explain myself.
“Twilight said she was busy, so she let me borrow these books for a few days” I said. As I told Rainbow Dash my reason for taking the books away from the library, her expression grew even more foreboding. She looked as though she wanted to give some kind of sarcastic reply, but Rarity jumped in to save us the trouble.
“Yes, it should be quite alright, I told him to go visit Twilight when he visited my shop earlier and we both know that she is always willing to help out when it comes to magic” Rarity assured.
After a brief silence, Rainbow Dash gave a grunt of disapproval before saying; “Fine, but I've got my eye on you mister.” She then flew up into the sky and darted away within moments.
After a brief silence, Rainbow Dash gave a grunt of disapproval before saying; “Fine, but I’ve got my eye on you mister.” She then flew up into the sky and darted away within moments.
“Thanks Rarity, I appreciate it.”
“It’s really not a problem, dear. I just hope you’re alright.” Rarity replied concernedly.
“I’m fine, what brings you here by the way?” I asked
“Oh, I almost forgot, I need to take a note of your name for the robes. Just to make sure I don’t get anything mixed up. Could you sign here please?” Rarity inquired whilst levitating a form and quill in front of me.
I wrote down my name along the line given and filled out the formalities, but then came the part I was dreading; “Signature”. I had never really had a signature but had to put down something, so put a random squiggle on the dotted signature line and handed the form back to Rarity.
“Thank you sir.” She said graciously.
Rarity looked down the form and it was obvious when she reached my excuse for a signature because her face turned stony as if to say; “Seriously?” Nonetheless, she accepted it and bid me farewell with a cheerful “See you soon!” It then struck me that perhaps I should just write N.S. next time.
After making sure I had picked up all of the books I had dropped, I headed home. Once there, I went straight upstairs and set the books down on the desk in my study area. I decided not to use the bookshelf for other people’s books because I feared that if did; I would forget that they weren't mine.
I went down to kitchen to fetch a sandwich and returned ready to flick through the magic material laid before me. Starting from the top of the pile, I picked off a book named Levitation and its practical applications. I began reading and was able to get through the first few chapters by the late hours of the night but the day had been exhausting and felt a great need to lay my head to rest for another day.