Welcome to Ponyville (Part 1)
“Lyra?”
“Er”
“What’re you looking at?”
Lyra put up her hoof in front of Sparkler’s face.
“Hush Sparkler,” Lyra hissed, before returning her full attention to the trio of mares across the street.
Sparkler rolled her eyes, and followed Lyra’s path of vision to see Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, and Colgate standing together, chatting merrily.
“And the problem is…?” Sparkler asked.
“Look at Colgate,” Lyra pointed to the white and blue unicorn.
“Its just Colgate.” Sparkler looked genuinely confused, which was possibly a first for the normally sharp-witted pony.
“Exactly,” snapped Lyra, and with a manic look in her eyes she whispered, “What’s she doing with Twinkle?”
“That’s what you’re so worried about?”
“Aren’t you”, asked Lyra “Colgate shouldn’t be around that monster.”
“Look Lyra, I’m no Twinkleshine fan, but aren’t you going overboard with this”
“I’ve got it!” Lyra jumped up, startling Sparkler, “She must be controlling her, with some sort of magic spell.”
“Oh of course” replied Sparkler drolly, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Shut up Sparkler, this is a genuine issue.”
“Fine, Fine” Sparkler resigned with her hooves up “Tell you what, let me talk to Colgate and see what’s up.”
“That sounds good,” mumbled Lyra, ignoring everything her friend had said and remaining intent on Twinkleshine’s smug face.
Sparkler walked across Star Swirl avenue to meet up with Colgate. Great Celestia, Lyra was an odd pony. Sometimes Sparkler had no idea what went on in that head of hers. She turned back to look at Lyra and saw her leaning forward, eyes almost bugging out of her head.
Making a face of mild embarrassment Sparkler continued walking towards Colgate before noticing that the three mares were busy chatting with Twilight Sparkle.
“Crap” thought Sparkler. She didn’t much like Twilight, finding her to be pretentious and overconfident in her abilities. Sparkler backed up and returned to Lyra to wait until Twilight left.
As it turned out Twilight wasn’t there for long. Twinkleshine grinned cynically at Twilight and said something that Sparkler couldn’t hear. Twilight gave a sheepish smile before galloping off as fast as she could. As she ran past Lyra and Sparkler, Lyra offered a friendly wave, which Twilight completely ignored. Lyra looked slightly hurt, but she was the friendliest pony in Canterlot, and hated it when other ponies were rude to her. That was the reason for her fear of Twinkleshine, who was cruel, arrogant, and manipulative.
“Speak of the devil”, muttered Sparkler.
“Hi girls!” proclaimed Twinkleshine in a condescending tone. “How are my favorite ponies in Canterlot?”
“Uh” Lyra stuttered “I…I”
“Awwwwwwww. Did poor little Heartstrings lose her tongue? Good luck being a world famous musician if you can’t even speak?” Twinkleshine made a mock pouty face.
“Leave her alone Twinkle.” interjected Colgate
“Who asked you to talk Minuette?” sneered Twinkleshine.
“I’ve told you not to call me that.” Colgate was clearly trying to remain calm.
“But Minuette is your name Minuette.”
“Um, Twinkle. There’s no need to er… fight” put in the meek and soft-spoken Lemon Hearts.
Completely ignoring Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine butted in “Nonetheless, I came over here to tell you that I’m moving to Ponyville. Thank Celestia I won’t have to see your ugly manes anymore. As I was just telling Minuette, Princess Celestia is sending her best unicorn students to Ponyville to continue their studies. I’ll be leaving tomorrow.” Twinkle puffed up her chest with pride.
A grin crept over Lyra’s face. No more Twinkleshine? Lyra’s prayers must have been answered.
“Delivery for you ponies”
“Huh”, Lyra turned around to see the mailmare holding four envelopes.
“For who” asked Colgate.
The mare responded by giving the envelopes to Sparkler, Colgate, Lemon Hearts, and Lyra. Lyra ripped open the envelope with her teeth and began to read aloud. Her face fell after the first paragraph.
“To My Dearest Student Lyra Heartstrings,
For many years, I have observed your diligence and focus during your magical studies. Now that you have graduated from magic school, I think that the time has come for you to use your skills in a practical situation. Therefore, I am offering you a very special opportunity.
I am inviting my best magic students to the small town of Ponyville for extra training in the applications of magic. You will be working and living in Ponyville. If you enjoy living there, you may remain for as long as you please. I have found a home for you that should suit you and your young filly quite well. I hope that you accept this opportunity to truly hone your magical prowess. The chariot for Ponyville departs tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia"
Twinkleshine gaped as Lyra finished the letter.
“D-did you all get that note.”
They all nodded glumly, except for Lemon Hearts, who was beaming with glee.
“Oh COME ON,” shouted Twinkleshine before storming off, kicking dust into Colgate’s mane.
“Oh wow, oh gee, what a great opportunity” Lemon Hearts had never seemed so excited.
“Oh Joy! Moving to a crummy little town to spend the rest of our lives with Twinkleshine.” muttered Sparkler.
“Besides, I have Tootsie Flute to care for,” Lyra knew that she couldn’t move her daughter to a new town when she was still just a little filly.
“I’ll go!” Colgate jumped in, startling the friends.
“Colgate? Really?” asked Sparkler
Colgate nodded. Of course she couldn’t tell her friends the real reason she needed to leave Canterlot, but she wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to escape them.
“I mean… um, sure. What a great opportunity. How could I pass it up?” Colgate gave an awkward grin to cover up her poor lie.
“Uh… I better get packing” Colgate ran off in response to her friends’ quizzical looks.
“I guess if Colgate’s going, I’ll go.” Sparkler resigned. She knew that there was nothing for her in Canterlot. None of Sparkler’s friends could afford to live in Canterlot now that their studies had ended. Moving to Ponyville could actually give them the chance to live a normal life. Sparkler looked at Lyra, and was shocked to see a tear in her friend’s eye.
“I can’t move. I have a daughter to take care of. I have friends here.”
“We are your friends Lyra” Sparkler put her hoof on the troubled pony’s shoulder to comfort her. “Besides, Tootsie will be fine. The Princess said so.”
“Think of the opportunities it will open up” chimed in Lemon Hearts.
“I don’t know girls.” Lyra whimpered.
“Lyra, as your friend and advisor, I insist that you go to Ponyville with us.” Sparkler knew her friend wanted to go with them, but was too nervous to make such a large decision.
“Well. If you insist.” Lyra gave a hesitant smile to Sparkler.
Sparkler smiled. She knew this pony too well.
***
The chariot to Ponyville was a large shuttle chariot. Sparkler leaned out of the window to get some fresh air, only to see a private chariot carrying Twilight Sparkle and that bloody pet dragon of hers.
“You have got to be kidding me!” Sparkler exclaimed “Why does that pony get everything from the princess? You know what I think? I think that she mmfmphh…”
Lyra stuffed her hoof into Sparklers mouth before she told a very offensive joke in front of the princesses’ royal guards.
Colgate ignored the antics of her friends. She was too busy worrying about whether they would follow her to Ponyville. She had known that they were gaining on her ever since she had seen one of them in Canterlot. Ponyville is a small enough town that she may be able to hide from them for a while. She let herself relax for a little, knowing she would have time to get her bearings once they arrived.
“Hi girls!”
“Damn it Twinkle, please go away.” Sparkler didn’t understand why Twinkleshine constantly insisted on harassing them.
“Harumph, I’m stung by your words.” Twinkle retorted in her usual arrogant tone.
“Now arriving in Ponyville”, the conductor announced.
“I’m just here to tell you one thing. I was hoping to get away from you freaks by moving to Ponyville, so let me make this clear. Stay out of my way. I don’t want to see you, talk to you, or hear from you at all. Understand?” Twinkleshine looked angrier than ever.
“Says the one who came into our compartment to talk,” responded Sparkler. Twinkleshine was such an idiot.
“I-um you um whatever. I refuse to be seen with you.” Twinkle stormed out of the compartment.
Colgate, Lyra, and Sparkler exited the chariot to be greeted by a small, quaint village peppered with small shops and homes.
“Oh, it’s adorable!” exclaimed Lyra “Come along now Tootsie”
Tootsie Flute looked very nervous to be in a new home. She was only 4 years old and had barely adjusted to life in Canterlot. Finding time to take care of Tootsie had been very difficult for Lyra to manage, as she was also trying to keep up with her studies. Lyra hoped that she would be able to give her filly more attention now that she was living a quieter life in a small town. Tootsie Flute had been a mistake, but she was the most beautiful and amazing mistake in all of Equestria. Lyra hadn’t meant to have a foal. She was in secondary magic school at the time, and everypony made bad choices, but having a filly while still a schoolpony made Lyra a laughing stock. To make matters worse, Lyra never saw that stallion again. She didn’t want to be with him, Lyra didn’t even like stallions, but the least he could have done was help her care for Tootsie. However, even as hard as she was to take care of, Tootsie was a wonderful filly, and one of the smartest Lyra had ever seen.
“Tootsie Flute, come back”
Lyra had gotten so caught up in her remembrances of the past that she had forgotten to look where Tootsie was going.
“Thanks Sparkler” Lyra managed to gasp, panic slowly seeping out of her body.
“What were you looking at?” Colgate asked the little pony.
The mint green filly motioned towards a pink earth pony with strange puffy hair. She was standing next to a violet earth pony with dark purple hair and different fruits for her cutie mark. The pink pony looked slightly crazed with excitement, and the violet one could barely keep her balance.
“Ummm… Hello?” Lyra asked the two ponies.
The Pink one leaped into the air and gasped loudly.
“Mooooooore new ponies. Wow, this is so exciting. Are you excited? This is the most exciting thing since the last time I was excited, and that was a whole ten minutes ago. “
“Uh, ok cool. We’ll be on our way” Sparkler looked a little scared. Lyra, on the other hand, enjoyed this friendly and spirited pony.
“Hello,” Lyra began “My name is Lyra Heartstrings, and these are my friends Colgate and Sparkler and my little filly Tootsie Flute. We come fro…”
“HI, Hi Lyra. My name is Pinkie Pie. Wow, this is just so exciting, I can’t even believe it.” Out of nowhere, confetti popped out of Pinkie Pie’s mane and she did a backflip. Sparkler looked like she had just seen a ghost and backed away. Lyra giggled at the sight.
“It’s nice to meet you Pinkie Pie,” She held out her hoof.
“What did she just do?” Sparkler whispered to Colgate, who shrugged and looked incredulously back at Pinkie Pie.
“Tell you what!” Pinkie burst out “I’m holding a party for another pony who just moved here. Why don’t you all come so you can meet some new friends?”
“Sure. That sounds great. We’re going to get settled into our homes, and we’ll see you there.” Lyra responded.
“Okee Dokee Lokee,” A huge grin crept over Pinkie’s face “See you at the library tonight” She hopped merrily away.
Colgate, in an attempt to overcome her quiet nature, tried talking to the violet pony.
“Hello, I’m Colgate. What’s your name.”
The violet pony blinked and stared blankly back at Colgate.
“Uhhhhhh. ‘s Berry Punch.” She responded.
“Hi there Berry Punch” Colgate, tried to hide her confusion at these strange ponies.
“ ‘ello” Berry Punch was clearly very intoxicated.
“Isn’t it a little early to be drinking?” Colgate asked, to which Berry Punch responded by shaking her head back and forth and staggering away.
“Colgate, I’m going to take Tootsie Flute and get unpacked.” Lyra picked up her little filly and headed in the direction of Sugar Street.
“Me too” Sparkler headed off in the opposite direction.
***
All alone by the chariot station, Colgate began walking towards the town square where her home lay ready for her. As she made her way through a small alley, a strange sight caught her attention. Near the end of the alley, an area in the corner began to glow, and let out a piercing sound. As the noise continued, the glow began to form into a familiar shape. As Colgate saw the large blue box that had appeared in front of her, her heart sank. The door to the box opened, and a brown stallion with an hourglass for a cutie mark exactly matching Colgate’s stepped out.
“Well then,” he said, before turning his attention to Colgate “Oh damn it.” He eyeballed Colgate from top to bottom, finally focusing his attention on her cutie mark.
“Ah-Ha” the stallion said, a grin on his face. Colgate began to back away. She knew she couldn’t outrun him. The stallion edged towards her.
CRASH
A loud noise within the box made both Colgate and the stallion jump.
“Doctor?” A strange voice called “Something happened.”
The stallion looked inside the box. “Bloody hell Ditzy, I told you not to touch that.”
Colgate used this moment to make a break for it. She galloped away as fast as she could, paying no attention to where she was going. She ran past the town square, and into an area that looked like a garden. Colgate stopped to catch her breath, but felt it catch in her lungs when she saw the brown stallion standing right in front of her.
“Please. Please leave me alone.” Colgate winced as the stallion moved towards her.
“You’re a time pony.” The stallion looked excited.
“Please, please, don’t take me back to them.”
“FANTASTIC,” he exclaimed, “I knew you would be here! I’ve been waiting for you.”
Colgate was crying with fear. “I don’t want to be a time pony anymore.”
“Haha. So happy to meet you.” The stallion pulled out a small metal rod from seemingly nowhere. “I’m the Doctor. What’s your name?”
“N-No. Please.” Colgate stammered.
“Ditzy” the Doctor called out.
Suddenly Colgate felt someone holding her in place. She turned her head to see a grey Pegasus pony with strange crossed eyes.
“Got it Doctor” Ditzy said in an odd voice.
The Doctor walked towards Colgate, holding the metal rod between his teeth.
“One ‘sec” he said in a muffled voice. Suddenly, a blue light glowed at the end of the rod. Colgate felt her shoulder go numb.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she sobbed, “I’ll go with you. Please.”
“All done!” The Doctor shouted.
“Whoo Hoo, nice work” Ditzy flew up a few feet, but lost her balance and fell flat on her face.
“Now careful there Ditzy! You can’t be my assistant if you’re hurt can you?” The Doctor grinned at Colgate.
“What’d you do?” the shocked unicorn asked.
“Oh not much, simply nullified the tracking device the time ponies put on you. Not much to worry about now.”
“A-Are you going to take me back to them.”
The two other ponies looked at her for a split second, before falling to the ground laughing.
***
*Knock Knock* Lyra held Tootsie’s hoof as they waited for the door to open. The building was a candy shop covered with pictures of small wrapped treats and candy canes. Lyra heard a creak as the door opened to reveal a cream-colored earth pony with a dark blue and candy pink mane. She was the most beautiful mare Lyra had ever seen, with her light blue eyes and multicolored fur.
“Lyra Heartstrings?” she asked, in a soft and collected voice.
“Hi!” Lyra shouted, making the calm pony wince.
“My name is Bon Bon. Why don’t you come inside and I’ll show you around.”
“Hi Bon Bon. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” Lyra grasped Bon Bon’s hoof and shook it vigorously. “I’m Lyra, and this is my filly, Tootsie Flute.”
At the sight of the little filly, Bon Bon’s straight face erupted into a giant smile.
“Oh how cute!” Bon Bon trotted up to pick up Tootsie. “Come inside, and I’ll show you around.”
“Hi” Tootsie smiled at the stranger.
Bon Bon carried Tootsie into the house and Lyra followed.
“The bottom floor is the shop. I will be here all day. It can get very noisy with all of the foals that come in, especially on weekends. The upper floor is where your rooms are. I have a room for both you and Tootsie.” Bon Bon showed them the different rooms. “I will let you unpack and get settled in. I assume you are going to Pinkie Pie’s party tonight?”
“I was planning on it, but…”
“Perfect. Tootsie Flute will be able to meet some new friends. Almost everypony goes to those parties.” Bon Bon abruptly turned away and left the room.
“You go see your room Tootsie Flute.” Lyra told her daughter “I’ll come get you for the party soon.” Lyra hoped that she could find happiness in this small town. She hoped that she could give her daughter a good life. And she hoped to Celestia that she could get something to eat soon.
***
Sparkler was settling into her new home. It was a small 5 room building in the outskirts of Ponyville. Nearby lay a dance club and a carrot farm. There were a few other houses neighboring her, which was unfortunate. Sparkler prayed that none of them would try to socialize with her. Having to go to this party tonight was bad enough. Frankly, she wouldn’t be going, but Lyra and Colgate would be nervous if she didn’t show up. Sparkler was the glue that held the three of them together. Any time the three of them were in an awkward social situation, they would only manage to get through it together. Sparkler balanced out Colgate’s social anxiety and Lyra’s strange stories and antics while they kept her misanthropy and somewhat rude attitude to a minimum. Sparkler couldn’t even imagine what this party would be like if she didn’t go.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM
The loud rumble snapped Sparkler out of her stupor, and she sat up from her bed.
“What the hay” Sparkler looked out her window. The rumble was coming from the house next door. Loud bangs accompanied the rumbling. Sparkler could hear a loud voice singing.
“Please Vinyl, I’m trying to work.” A soft voice was barely audible over the loud sounds. Suddenly, the music screeched to a halt.
“C’mon Octavia, I need to practice too.” The voice that was singing to the “music” said.
“You know I have a performance tonight at the Summer Sun celebration. I need the rest of the night to practice.” Octavia whined.
Sparkler sighed. She hoped she wouldn’t have to hear these two ponies fight every day.
***
“Hi Lyra. Welcome to the party.” Pinkie Pie opened the door for Lyra and Tootsie Flute.
“Hi! Thanks for having us.” Lyra grabbed Tootsie Flute’s hoof to lead her inside, but the filly shook it away.
“Mom, I don’t need you to hold my hoof all of the time.” Seeing the scared look on her mother’s face, Tootsie Flute nuzzled Lyra and trotted into the library. Lyra followed her daughter inside, and looked for her friends. Bon Bon had said she would stay at the shop for a little and meet Lyra at the party, but Lyra had expected Colgate and Sparkler to be here by now. Lyra looked around her surroundings. The violet pony who had greeted them with Pinkie Pie was at the snack table, drinking from the punch bowl. Tootsie Flute was interacting with a small pink filly on the other side of the room. Lyra figured one drink wouldn’t hurt her, so she walked over to the punch bowl and poured herself a glass.
“Yikes! That’s strong.” Lyra said out loud.
“ ‘s punch” The violet pony said.
“Clearly!” Lyra retorted. “I’m Lyra. We’ve met before”
“Berry Punch” the pony held out a hoof, but lost her balance and fell to the floor.
“Hey” Lyra felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Colgate standing with three other ponies. Lyra reached out to embrace Colgate, but was interrupted by a loud crash. Looking towards the door, Lyra saw an unlikely trio of ponies walking through the door. They were lead by a white unicorn with a blue mane and shaded glasses. Behind the unicorn was an arrogant looking grey earth pony with a pink bow tie. Finally, rounding out the trio was…
“Sparkler?” Colgate looked incredulously at the purple unicorn, who was chatting with the grey earth pony.
“Calm down everypony, no need to stop partying.” The white unicorn sauntered into the library with confident bravado.
“Hey.” Sparkler rejoined her friends at the snack table. “How’s it going?”
“I see you’ve had no trouble making friends.” Lyra smirked at Sparkler.
“They’re my neighbors. Vinyl Scratch and Octavia.”
“I see” Lyra looked at the white unicorn, who was standing on a table, and leading the ponies in a chant.
“Yeah! Vinyl Scratch is in the building ya’ll” She shouted.
“Yer new as well” One of the ponies with Colgate asked Lyra in a rough voice.
“Yeah. We’re from Canterlot.” Lyra shook the pony’s hoof.
“The name’s Carrot Top. I run the carrot farm here.” Carrot Top had an orange mane and three carrots for a cutie mark.
Another one of the ponies who was standing with Colgate stepped forward and introduced himself.
“They call me the Doctor.” He smiled at Lyra and Sparkler.
“Doctor of what?” Lyra asked, looking confused.
“Just the Doctor.” The Doctor continued to smile, as if that was an adequate explanation.
The third pony, who had been standing next to the Doctor simply stared at Lyra with a cross eyed expression until Carrot Top nudged her.
“Uhhhh, I’m Ditzy Doo.” The grey Pegasus looked around, as if she didn’t know whom she was talking to.
Lyra looked back at Tootsie Flute. She was with three other fillies: the pink one from earlier, a tan filly, and a little unicorn with a blond mane.
“That’s my daughter.” Lyra turned to see Ditzy Doo standing next to her, pointing at the unicorn filly. “Her name is Dinky.”
Lyra began to point out her daughter to the strange Pegasus, when Pinkie Pie hopped past them shouting.
“Its time to watch the sun rise! Everypony to the town hall.” Pinkie Pie hopped out the door, followed by swarms of ponies that were attending the party.
Lyra and her friends exited the library and followed the ponies into the town square, where they found themselves caught in the back of a large crowd. Lyra looked around the crowd and saw Tootsie Flute and her new friends grouped together.
“Lyra!” Bon Bon trotted over to her. “I’m sorry I missed you at the party. I’m glad to see you’re settling in.”
“Hi Ms Bon Bon.” The little pink filly said.
“Hello Piña Colada. How are you today?” Bon Bon smiled at the tiny pony.
“Yo, be quiet! The celebrations starting.” Vinyl Scratch looked angrily at Bon Bon. Lyra could hear a muffled voice from the front in the crowd.
“YO! SPEAK UP!” Vinyl shouted to whoever was speaking.
“Vinyl. Please, be quiet.” Octavia tried to calm her friend in a soft voice.
The muffled voice continued on and on, with Lyra and her friends unable to hear anything that was going on. Sparkler leaned over to Carrot Top.
“This “party” sucks”
“This party always sucks” Carrot Top responded.
A high-pitched scream jolted the friends out of their boredom.
“What the hay.” Lyra jumped up. She could hear panic beginning to spread around the hall. Screams and shouts came from all around her.
“What’s going on?” Bon Bon grabbed onto Lyra to keep them from getting separated. “Stay together everyone.”
Lyra looked back at where Tootsie Flute had been sitting, and saw an empty space.
“Bon Bon! Where’s Tootsie Flute?” Lyra screamed.
“She was right there.” Bon Bon shouted back.
Lyra began to cry.
“Where’s my baby? Please. Where’s my baby?”
The group behind Lyra began to push her, she went limp, and allowed Bon Bon to pull her along. Disaster flashed through her eyes as she watched ponies trample each other, screaming. A cry of agony came from behind her. She looked and saw a stallion being hit by a bolt of magic, and collapsing to the ground, motionless. Bon Bon dragged the catatonic Lyra into an alley, where a large blue box with the words “Police” on it lay at the back. The Doctor trotted up ahead and opened the door of the box.
“Get in.” He motioned into the box, looking impatient.
“This is what you brought us here for.” Bon Bon asked angrily.
“Just get the hay in.” Colgate stepped next to the Doctor.
“But. But my daught… OW” Lyra fell to the ground. Looking up, she saw Derpy sitting next to her with a big grin on her face.
“The fillies are safe.” Ditzy told the Doctor.
“What? Where are they?” Lyra grabbed Ditzy and shook her.
“They’re with Cheerilee. In the school building.” Ditzy looked proud itself.
“Fantastic!” The Doctor smiled and stepped out of the box. “Ditzy, do you remember what I told you would happen tonight.”
Ditzy looked blankly at the Doctor. “No.”
The Doctor sighed. “I’ll explain inside. Everyone get in.”
“But why?” Sparkler asked “Shouldn’t we go to the school also? How will we be safe in there?”
“ ‘Sides” Carrot Top stepped forward “We can’t all fit in there.”
“Everyone just get in.” Colgate said, sounding exasperated “We’ll explain inside.”
“Colgate, what are you talking about?” Lyra frowned at her friend.
“Just hurry up!” Colgate shouted.
“That’s it, I’m going in.” Vinyl Scratch ran to the box and jumped inside.
“HOLY HAY” They heard her shout. “Everyone, get inside!”
One by one, the ponies stepped inside the box. Octavia followed Vinyl, with Berry Punch, Colgate, and Carrot Top going in next. Sparkler clutched Ditzy Doo as she walked in, looking terrified.
“Are you two coming?” The Doctor beckoned. “We are in a bit of a hurry.”
“Come on Lyra.” Bon Bon took her hoof. “We’ll go in together.”
Lyra and Bonbon walked forward hoof in hoof, and followed the eight other ponies straight into the unknown.