Blank Canvas

by Canvas Stories

Chapter 1, Ponyville

Blank Canvas

Chapter 1, Ponyville

The day is nice and warm this time of year. Coming from Applewood made it so that traveling by hoof enabled me to see the great open fields and rolling hills that led to Ponyville. Judging by what my map was saying, Ponyville was just over this next, particularly large, hill. Making it to the top of the hill gave me a great view of Ponyville and the remaining distance that I needed to travel. As I looked at Ponyville, I saw what looked to be a celebration near the center of the town. Judging from where my new house was, I assumed that I was likely to pass by the gathering on my way there.

Upon arriving in the town, I saw that it was getting late, and if I wanted to unpack while it was still light, I would have to hurry. As I got closer to the big event, music began to make itself more apparent. Once on site, I saw that it was not a party, but was one of those weird crowd signings that is pretty hard to avoid joining. I quietly snuck by, so that I could get to my home and unpack.

My house would normally be hard to see, due to the eerie similarity between all the houses, but my house wasn’t far enough from the town square for that to be a problem. This was still a good distance from my newly attained workplace, being a couple of blocks away. My new occupation was working as a cashier at the new Radio Stable.

Once I arrived at my house, I levitated my key to the door’s lock, to make sure that it was the right house. After opening the door, I trotted back to my cart to levitate all of my material possessions into the house.

- - -

The next day, I awoke to the groaning of my stomach, crying out for food. I got out of bed with a groan. The kitchen was my next destination, to quell the fury of the growling monstrosity that was steadily growing within me. I had gotten the bedroom and kitchen set up last night, but there were still piles of boxes scattered around the house. Once I reached the fridge, I opened it, only to reveal a complete absence of any food.

“Aaah, I forgot to buy food yesterday!” I grumbled to myself before a well deserved hoof to the face.

I grabbed my saddle bag to prepare for the trip to the market, ten bits occupying the meager space it provided, then brushed my mane. As I walked out the front door, I immediately got the sense that I was alone. Coming from a city like Applewood made me used to dozens of ponies, and other sentient creatures, walking about the streets. Being a town, there shouldn’t be as many denizens on the streets, but this was ridiculous. There wasn’t a single trace of life on the street, aside from a bird or two. It was almost midday, the busiest time of the day, even for little settlements like this town. Giving a sigh, I began walking, assuming that they're all at the market, conversing and buying stuff.

As I traveled to the market, it seemed as if there was no one around, to the point of it seeming like a ghost town. As I reached the market, I still couldn’t see anyone, heck, even the booths were void of any vendors or goods. After a quiet sigh, I thought back to the map and remembered that there was an apple farm just on the outskirts of the town, by the name of Sweet Apple Acres. Looking around at the nearby hills, I saw an apple orchard just a bit northeast from my position. I began to walk towards the orchard, with thoughts of relief on my mind. Once I made it past the buildings, and got a better view of the farm, I saw that it was more than just a small distance away. The road was actually about four miles away going over a hill, or two miles of apple trees.

“........Buck!”

After about two and half hours of walking, I finally made it to the door of the large barn-house hybrid in the middle of the acres. Being tired, hungry, and more than a little annoyed from the day thus far lead me to feel a bit aggravated. Arriving at the door gave me some relief, and knocking the door only increased the feeling. I knocked a few times… nothing, no one was home. This sent rage through my veins, to the point of stomping on the welcome mat, but I restrained myself after two strikes.

“Okay, calm down, it’s starting to get a bit late, so they must be coming back home soon, so I’ll just wait.” I thought to myself.

30 minutes later

“Buck this, I’ll just pick them myself.”

I then proceeded towards the task of obtaining ten apples, leaving a compensation of ten bits, and a note onto the porch of the large house-barn hybrid.

Dear, owners of Sweet Apple Acres

As nopony was home, I took it upon myself to gather precisely ten apples. I personally feel that this should cover it. If you would like to file a complaint, you can find me at 397 Gryfoth Lane.

Sincerely, Blank Canvas

“Where has everypony gone, and why aren't they back?” I thought to myself as I passed the last apple tree leading out of the farm.

A large pop sound grabbed my attention, forcing me to look to my right. I gazed intently in that direction, I saw nothing at first, but after a few seconds, a bright light popped into my vision, coming from the other side of a hill just outside of town. Continuing to stare at the same place, I began to see them more frequently, and they looked like fireworks or some sort of magical beasts. Regardless, it meant that a grand celebration or big party was being conducted at the source. Being fireworks or something of the like, meant that it was a pretty big deal.

“Aaah, that must be where everypony went.”

Most of the time I wasn’t shy to join a party, especially big parties like this one. This time I would have to pass, due to the fireworks normally marking the end of it, and I was just too tired from the day thus far. Even if I were able to make it, I would just hang around the refreshments table to cool my stomach-monster back into it’s slumber. Thinking of this only served to awaken my stomach, invoking an orchestra of grumbling, forcing me to levitate an apple up to my mouth, and eat it. Now I really wanted to get home and sleep, so that I could even get up tomorrow.

Once I reached home, I could already see the lights of the party dying down, signalling that the party was over. After fumbling with the keys to open the door, I walked into my home, dropping my saddlebags on the table and lazily walking up the stairs. I plopped into bed, barely wrapping myself in a blanket, and fell asleep.

- - -

I awoke the next morning to an annoying beam of light hitting my eyes, blinding me as I reflexively opened them. I hadn’t put up the curtains the night before, resulting in the unpleasant waking I just received. I wrapped part of my blanket over my head to block the sun’s rays and go back to sleep, until I heard some knocking coming from the front door. Who could it be? No one had seen me move in, and I wasn’t expecting anyone. I groaned as I got out of bed, still half-asleep. The knocking resumed, and I quickened my pace to the stairs. I lost my hoofing half way down the stairs, dooming me to tumble down the remaining stairs, eventually landing straight on my back. After getting up, I rubbed my back a bit and continued towards the door. Upon opening the door I was greeted by an orange mare with a blonde mane and brown hat, holding a folded piece of paper in her mouth.

“I heard the tumble ya had a second ago, y’alright there, partner?” Dropping the note from her mouth as she opened it to talk.

“Yeah, I’m ok” I responded before levitating the note back to her, I saw that it was the same note that I had left at the farm the previous day.

“You must be from Sweet Apple Acres?”

“Indeed Ah’ am”

“So I guess that I didn’t pay enough for the apples then, right?”

“You must be new to town?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?” I asked suspiciously.

“This is a small town where everypony knows each other. It doesn’t go unnoticed when somepony new shows up.”

“So how much do I owe you then?”

“No need, just take them as a welcome to Ponyville gift from the Apple family.”

“Aaah, so you’re part of the apple family then.”

Her cutie mark was a dead giveaway, as an abundance of apples on one’s posterior tends to be.

“So, I take it you’ve met some other apples then?” she asked

“Hardly, I’ve just briefly talked to some in the other towns and cities I've been to. One of them did mention that the apple family is all over Equestria. Now, I have yet to ask your name”

“I’m Applejack, what's yours?”

“Blank Canvas.”

“It was nice talking to you, Mr. Canvas.”

“Canvas is fine.”

“Okay, well, it was nice talking to you, Canvas, but I need to go now. I’ll see you around.” She said, raising her hoof for a hoofshake.

“As will I.” returning the action.

After closing the door, I ran back up to my room. As the previous tumble had shaken any and all sleep from my eyes, I just went to the calendar to check the date. Seeing that it was circled reminded me that this was an important day.

“I suppose that I oughta go sooner or later.” I mumbled to myself, with a sigh.

I rushed to the bathroom and brushed my mane and tail until they pleased me. After walking out the door, I stopped at the sidewalk to gather my bearings and tried to remember the layout of the town. As I looked to my right, I was knocked over by a dangerous pink blur. As I was getting back up, I noticed that the blur was actually a distinctively mono-pink mare.

“I’m sorry ar-” After an extremely long gasp, she zipped off in the other direction.

“Okay… that was weird.” I exclaimed, then remembered that I had to go right.

As I walked down the street, I saw a white coated mare having trouble pulling a cart. In my endless chivalry, I walked over to her and offered my help.

“Do you need some help with that?”

“No thank you dear, I wouldn’t want to waste your time.” She responded.

“It’s no trouble, I was heading in that direction anyway.”

“Oh, you’re too kind.”

I pulled the cart as I followed her. As we walked, she talked about the dress that she was making was for some high roller in Canterlot, and how great it was that they came to her for such a thing. Once we got to her Boutique, she finished her rant with a heavy sigh.

“I absolutely must pay you for the hard work you’ve done for me.” She said as she unhooked the cart from me with her telekinesis.

“I can’t accept that, I am quite good on money, ma’am.”

“No, I must do something hmmm… I know! How about a nice suit?”

“I guess I could use a suit for fancy occasions...” I replied.

“How’s 5:00 PM on Tuesday? We can get the fitting done then.” She asked.

“I work at that time, Six would be better. Sorry, but I gotta go now.”

“Splendid, I’ll see you then!” She called out as I walked away.

As I saw my destination, I began to gallop. The town library was just four blocks away. As I got close to the intersection, a yellow mare intersected my path.

“STOP!” She yelled.

I planted my hooves in the mud. The ground was slippery enough that I flipped over and face planted straight in the mud. I slowed down, stopping barely a hoof-length in front of the mare. I stood up, to see a line of ducks being guarded by the yellow mare. After they passed, she turned back to me.

“I...I...I’m sorry sir, but you need to be more careful...” She said quietly, avoiding eye contact. She seemed ashamed of herself, eliciting an internal “daaw” from me, as ponies call it.

Being in cities for the past two years instilled a habit of yelling at other ponies for such things. This pony though, just looking at her made my heart grow three sizes. I didn’t have the anger to tell her off.

“Uh... It’s no problem. After all, you were helping a bunch of ducks. I might have stepped on the little guys if you hadn’t stopped me.” I said, nervously.

“You like ducks?” She spoke a bit louder, finally meeting my eyes.

“Yeah, I like ducks, who doesn’t like ducks?” I replied.

“What about your mane? You got mud all over it.”

“It’s fine, I, uh...needed a shower anyway.” I lied, showing sympathy for the timid mare.

“Mind sharing your name?” I asked

“Oh, um... My name is Fluttershy. I’ve never seen you around, are you new in town?” She asked with a little more confidence than before.

“Yeah, I just got here yesterday. The name’s Blank Canvas. I gotta get going, though. Guess I’ll see you around then, Fluttershy,” I said as I began to trot off towards the library.

“Goodbye Canvas. Sorry again about making you fall!”

After getting a bit of a distance between us, I took a moment to catch my breath. With my head hanging low, and my self esteem even lower, I continued to the library. I was halfway to the library from the last intersection, when a lightning bolt from a nearby thundercloud hit the ground just a hoof behind me. I looked up to see a rainbow-maned pegasus perched on a cloud, pointing a hoof at me as she laughed hysterically. I guess her little prank was supposed to startle me, but it just annoyed me further. After she finished her laughing fit, she flew down in front of me.

She tried to avoid my gaze as an awkward silence filled the air. Her eyes kept drifting to my mane, body, and pretty much anywhere that wasn’t my face. Eventually, she let out an awkward chuckle, and spoke.

“Sorry about that little prank, I thought you were some other pony. You look really dirty, you want a rinse?” She said, before flying back into the sky to grab the cloud once again.

“I’d appreciate it ma’am.”

“Nopony calls me ma’am. The name’s Rainbow Dash,” She said while adjusting the cloud above me.

“Sorry, I’m Blank Canvas.” I said as she started jumping on the cloud, sending a torrent of rain down on me.

“You’re new in town, right?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Like I said, nopony calls me ma’am.”

She stopped jumping, and the rain ceased. I took a couple of steps forward, but she cut me off, and began flying circles around me. Her speed increased, and she soon became a blurry cylinder of rainbows, that I was trapped inside. The cool wind she created made my mane blow all over my face, tickling my muzzle. Soon after, she slowed down and came to a stop by my side. I felt my mane to find it almost rid of moisture.

“My very own, patented, Rainblow Dryer.” she said, taking a bow.

“Wow, Rainbow Dash, that was really impressive.” Showing a slight grin to the mare.

“Well, I am the fastest flyer in all of Equestria!”

“Thanks for the help, but I gotta get going.” I said as I began my trot to the nearby library.

“Guess I’ll see you around then, bye!”

After many an introduction, I finally made it to the library. I then proceeded to knock a few times. After a moment, I knocked a few more times, and the door opened. A small purple dragon appeared on the other side. It surprised me to see a dragon in Ponyville, but I managed to keep a straight face.

“Can I help you, sir?” He asked.

“Yeah, I’m looking for a Miss Twilight Sparkle. Is she here?”

“No, but she should be back soon.”

“May I come in and wait for her?”

“Sure, the name’s Spike, by the way. You can relax on the couch.” He said moving aside to let me inside. I stepped inside and took a seat on said couch.

“So, how do you know Twilight?” I asked.

“I’m her assistant, what about you?” Spike asked

“Well, I don’t... I was sent by Princess Celestia.”

“Why would the Princess send you?”

“I think it’d be better if I tell Twilight first.” Spike grumbled a bit, and went upstairs.

I reached for my laptop from my saddlebag, but sighed, realizing that I forgot to bring it. So I entertained myself by looking at some of the books. Looking through the shelves to pick one out, I came across the section where the Daring Do books should be, but they were all taken, so I just picked out a book named Guide to Telekinesis.

After reading for about half an hour, I heard talking from outside the door. I put the book down and stood up to greet who I hoped to be the mare I was sent here for. The only thing I know about her is that she has purple hair. As the door opened, I saw a mare with purple hair enter. I bowed my head and spoke.

“Miss Twilight Sparkle, I was sent by princess Celestia to-” I then saw all the mares I’d met earlier rush into the room.

“Hey, it’s you!” All the mares, expect for the one I presumed to be Twilight, exclaimed in unison.

“That it is.” I responded, before walking up to Twilight.

“Miss Twilight Sparkle, I was sent by Celestia to be your apprentice.”

Written by: Canvas Stories

Edited by: Potato Pride and Blue_Thunder