For lack of better word, Ponyville was…Ponyville.

It was exactly the same as it was in every other possible timeline where it existed; quaint and mild as always. The market was thriving, the construction team was looking for new recruits, and Mayor Mare Giles was running once again, sure to win by a landslide as she had several times in a row.

The cab rolled into town just outside the welcome sign. Pinkamena grabbed her bags and left the vehicle. She turned and told the cabby the shameful truth that she had no money to offer. The cabby had seen that her eyes were tear stained and dried blood was forming a natural tattoo down her cheek. He let her know that he was a very absent minded pony and gave her a wink. Pinkamena returned a ghost of a smile and watched him drive away in the opposite direction.

Pinkamena turned to look at her new home. It wasn’t the city of lights as her father had lied. He lied about everything. She could see it now. She had been so blind. But still, it was a pretty little sight to see all of the cozy cottages lined up with the shops and marts. She thought for a moment that she might like it there. So she started toward the market, possibly looking for somebody to meet.

As she walked closer, her eye flashed a searing pain into her skull, causing her to clutch at it and force them shut. She stood there for a bit, waiting for it to stop. In this time, her thoughts turned to the idea of nobody liking her. Just as it had been for her whole life. And why wouldn’t that happen? It was twice as likely as opposed to getting a warm greeting. Pinkamena thought to herself, that if someone had come limping up to her from god knows where, filthy and their face stained with blood and tears, looking for somebody to chat to, her first instinct would probably have been to run away, never looking back at the monster. But once the pain receded, her mind crept back to the warming thought of friendliness.

This was a whole new place. No. A whole new world. A whole new life. Nobody had known who she was or where she had come from. If she wanted to, she could change her name.

These thoughts were nice. Nice thoughts weren’t too common for Pinkamena. She hoped that things would stay like this while she was here, in this new place. She hoped that they would stay forever. Heck, soon they wouldn’t be thoughts. Good things would actually be there for Pinkamena.

Entering the market, she saw many things. The first thing that caught her eye was a large caravan carrying buckets and buckets of red cherries. Pinkamena hadn’t had a cherry since she was very young. She and Ariel had once agreed that it was their favorite part of the ice creams they used to get for dessert.

Second, she saw a stand that was selling what looked like roses and daisies. They were still potted and flourishing. The pony manning the stand was particularly beautiful. Her skin was a creamy white and her mane was three different shades of crimson. A smile was on this particular pony’s face. Pinkamena looked around and saw that everybody was smiling. It brought warmness all over her body. It almost made her want to smile herself.

But she was a stranger. She hadn’t any reason to smile. She hadn’t established anything here yet. But she yearned to very soon.

Third, she saw another cart. This one selling apples. Manning the cart was a maroon stallion. His mane was a deep blonde and cut short. His eyes were different than everybody else in the market. He wasn’t smiling. Perhaps something was getting to him. Pinkamena noticed that there was nobody there to accompany him. No brother, no father. Not even a little sister. Pinkamena didn’t know it, but this particular stallion was possibly the saddest person in the market that day. And why wouldn’t he be? His poor old grandmother was sick with the flu in need of income to help pay for medicine. He would have had more help, had his little sister not ran away to the big city all those years back. She was in law school now, but not one penny had been sent back toward the farm. She hadn’t even spoken to him in long enough. She was as good as dead to him, just like his other little sister, who simply drifted off and never came back one night. They had said it was a case of SIDS, but it was fate. And fate was a rotten bitch to that poor stallion across the way.

Now, After seeing this, Pinkamena would have gone up to the cart and asked him what the trouble was. But instead, she was halted by a gruff voice calling to her from behind.

Pinkamena’s heart sank.

Oh no. She panicked silently.

She whirled around to see what had been calling her. Whatever it was, she prayed that it wasn’t her father.

She sighed in relief to see that it was only another stallion. He was a unicorn, muscular and tall. His stature left a shadow over Pinkamena as he leaned toward her, smiling a suave grin.

“Hi there, young lady.” He started.

Pinkamena was timid. She was not sure how to respond. First impressions would be the most important thing to focus on while she stayed in that town. She didn’t want to come off negatively to anybody or else the same would happen over and over again. She knew that’s how it would be.

“Hello, sir. Nice to meet you!” She paused, realizing she was too enthusiastic. “I’m new in town.” Pinkamena finished eventually.

The stallion’s grin was unwavering. “I noticed. You sure are pretty, missy.”

Pinkamena couldn’t help but giggle a little under her breath. She had only just met him and a random stallion was complimenting her. Were all of the ponies in this town as friendly as him?

The stallion’s grin widened the moment her giggle reached his ears.

“Say, I couldn’t help but notice that cutie mark you’ve got there, missy.”

Pinkamena was instantly reminded of her father. Any happiness that had built up in those past couple of seconds had shattered. She looked at the ground and pouted a little.

“Oh.” She grunted. “That.”

The stallion’s grin grew again. “I’m guessing you’re good at rock-related type things, eh?” He asked.

Though she didn’t want to admit it, it was all she had done her whole life. She would certainly like to think that talent had built in that time. She looked back up at the stallion.

“Yea, I guess so. I’ve worked with rocks for a really long time. And I mean a really long time.”

“Sure! Sure! I bet you have, little lady.”

The stallion suddenly reached out and patted her on the shoulder. Pinkamena looked up at him, a bit off put by the move. He looked directly into her eyes with that smile still as broad as a barn door.

“The name’s Kanker, baby. I think I can tackle you a job around these parts.” He claimed.

Pinkamena did a double take looking back into the stallion’s eyes. She hadn’t been in the town for more than five minutes and she had already gotten a working job.

“Wow! You really mean it!?” She expelled happily.

“I sure do, baby.” The stallion guaranteed.

For the first time in fourteen years, a full smile spread across Pinkamena’s face. Her new life had begun. She was free. Life had finally started for Pinkamena. No more scavenging the fields to meet the quota, no more abuse, all of this behind her and gone forever. Nothing had ever felt so good.

“Oh thank you so much!” Pinkamena beamed. “This I just wonderful!”

The stallion pushed further down on her shoulder to keep her on the ground, shifting his eyes around to make sure nobody had heard how loud his new client had been. That would have been embarrassing. His smile faltered for a couple of seconds in what looked like annoyance. Quickly, however, it bounced back and the stallion turned around and motioned for Pinkamena to follow.

“Come on! I’ll show you to your work station.” He called over his shoulder.

Pinkamena foolishly followed the stallion, not even knowing what job she had just gotten. Kanker had been very lucky to be in town when he was. He had just found himself a perfect new ‘employee’.