Timetable sat on the hard, wooden stool in the ticketbooth of the Ponyville train station, reading his newspaper. The sun was bright and warm, just enough to make you sleepy, and birds were singing. After a moment, Timetable glanced up at the clock and sighed. The nine o'clock from Canterlot was running late. Again. He'd have to have a word with the station manager, see what he could do...
Timetable turned back to his paper. The front-page story today focused on Princess Luna's sudden efforts to strengthen ties between nations, including, notably, the few remaining Changeling Hives. Timetable didn't have much of a head for politics, and he generally was content to leave well enough alone, but still--he wasn't fond of the idea of inviting those... those bugs into Equestria. All black and slimy... who knows what they're gonna do next...
But then again, he wasn't the Princess. And she had her reasons, of course... she had to...
Timetable turned the page and involuntarily shuddered. There, smack-dab between the Front Page and Sports, was the Social column. He generally made a point of skipping over that section--nothing good comes of digging in other people's business, after all--besides, it was always the same old stories: who's sleeping with who, who wore what to which... and...
Timetable paused, then peered carefully at a tiny, half-inch of print in the bottom corner. It wasn't even a full article--just a note--but it said that Princess Celestia had cancelled yet another engagement, this time, some sort of school function. The author, one Gabby Gums, added that the Princess had not been seen in two weeks, ever since she attended the funeral of a close friend, and suggested that, perhaps, she had gone on vacation... though, of course, the present author could not easily confirm such speculation...
As Timetable read, he was dimly aware of the sound of a train pulling into the station--of the hiss of steam brakes--of the sound of doors opening--of someone clip-clopping across the wood of the platform...
"Excuse me," said a voice.
Timetable glanced up over the top of the paper, then quickly folded it and set it aside. "Yes, miss," he said brightly, "What can I do for you?"
Standing in front of him, on the other side of the glass, was a mare. She was a pegasus, with a white coat and a pink mane, long and wavy. She was pretty, but not beautiful, tall, but not towering, and wore a straw hat with a sunflower in the brim. On her flank, he could see a simplified sun, shedding triangular rays. And, though he was terrible at guessing ages, he would have pegged her as being in her early twenties--though something about her seemed far older than that...
"I'm new here," she said with an uncertain smile, "and I wanted to check in at Town Hall. See if they might know if there's anyplace to stay, or anypony looking to hire. Could you give me directions?"
Timetable nodded eagerly. "Of course," he said. "Lemme just--"
He hopped down from the stool, then began to dig underneath the counter. After a moment's search, he glanced up at her, then back down at the papers.
"What's your name?" he asked.
If Timetable had been watching, he would have noticed something very strange happen. The mare across from him opened her mouth to answer--but then, her brow furrowed in confusion, and she closed it again. It seemed, almost, that she had the answer on the tip of her tongue, but, for some reason, it had suddenly slipped away. She remained quiet for a moment before she brightened again, remembering.
"Sunshine," she said. "But my friends call me Sunny."
This entire process took less than half a second, and was over before Timetable even had time to push the old mail directory out of the way.
"Sunny, eh?" he said. "Where you from, Sunny?"
Again, the same strange expressions--confidence, then confusion, then revelation.
"Lariat Fork," she said. "Up north of Canterlot a ways."
He nodded. "I know the place," he said. "Good folks."
"...It's been a while since I've been home," Sunny admitted. "I mean--"
Suddenly, Timetable gave a little cry of triumph. He slapped an old, wrinkled sheet of notepaper on the counter, and pulled a pencil from a chipped coffee mug with his teeth.
"City Hall, right?" he asked. Sunny nodded, and he began to frantically scribble. "We're here... and Main Street's this-a-way... and you walk down here, and--" He spun the map around, then pushed it across the counter to her. "That work?"
She peered at the map, then nodded. "I think so," she said.
Timetable smiled, and pushed the map through the little slot in the glass. Sunny tucked it under her wing, picked up her suitcase in her teeth, then nodded her thanks. She turned and walked away, and Timetable leaned forward to watch her go. When she rounded the corner of the building, he sighed, sat down in his stool again, and turned back to his paper, still open to the Social page.
Timetable stared at the paper for a moment, then leaned forward and looked where Sunny had gone. He glanced at the paper again, scoffed, shook his head, and turned to the funnies.
* * *
Mayor Diamond Tiara rubbed her eyes, then stared down at the stack of papers on her desk--a proposal for a new neighborhood to be built between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. Next to it was a report, penned by Fluttershy, on the impact the neighborhood would have on the ecology of the forest, and, beside it, an analysis on the economic ramifications of such an expansion, by Applebloom.
Mayor Tiara groaned to herself, then took a sip of her coffee. She had campaigned as a Pony of the People, which was true; she loved being out there, shaking hooves and kissing babies, doing everything she could to actually help the citizens. But, the other half of the job--all the paperwork, all the reports, all the analysis--well, that's what she had hired Silver Spoon for, hadn't she? But still--
Suddenly, someone knocked at the door. Mayor Tiara jerked her head up just as the door swung open a crack, and a pretty mare poked her head through. Her coat was white, her mane pink, and she wore a hesitant expression.
"Excuse me," she said, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I...?"
Mayor Tiara stared at her a moment, then pushed aside the papers on her desk. "Not at all," she said, standing. She walked to the door, threw it open, then took the mare's hoof in both of her own. "I'm Mayor Diamond Tiara, of Ponyville," she said. "And you are?"
"Sunshine, ma'am," she said, gently pulling her hoof away. "I'm new in town."
Mayor Tiara opened her mouth, then closed it again. She looked at Sunshine carefully, then frowned. "Are you sure?" she asked. "Because, for just a second, I thought you looked familiar..."
Sunshine shook her head. "I must have one of those faces," she said uneasily. "I just got off the train from Lariat Fork." She hesitated, then looked down. "I've heard good things about Ponyville," she said, "and thought it might be a good place to start over."
Mayor Tiara nodded. "Ponyville's the best town this side of Canterlot," she said. "I am a little biased, of course, but--" she shrugged. "Here, let me show you a map of the place. Excuse me?"
Sunny backed up, almost tripping over her bag in the hall. She turned and picked up the straw hat sitting on top and tucked it under her wing, then picked up the suitcase in her teeth and trotted after Mayor Tiara, who was now walking down the hall.
"So," Mayor Tiara said casually over her shoulder, "Starting over?"
Once again, that strange pause, and those strange expressions.
"I've been travelling for a while now," Sunny said. "Been all over Equestria. But now, I'm looking for someplace a little more permanent."
Mayor Tiara nodded. "Of course," she said. "Where was your favorite place to visit?"
Pause.
"Seaddle," Sunny said. "A little rainy, but the folks are nice."
Mayor Tiara nodded again. "I'll have to visit sometime..."
Mayor Tiara lead Sunny back to the lobby, where there hung a giant map of Ponyville. "So," she said, "What are you looking for today?"
Sunny set down her bag, then examined the map. "I was hoping that you might know of anyone who's hiring, or maybe looking to rent," she said. "I need a job and a place to stay."
Mayor Tiara frowned. "Of course," she murmured. "But, y'know, I'm not sure what jobs we have for a pegasus... the Weather Patrol is all full right now, and I don't think Postmaster Muffins needs any more help... But--"
For just a moment, Mayor Tiara brightened--but then, just as quickly, her face fell. Sunny peered at the map for another moment, then turned to look at her questioningly. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
Mayor Tiara shook her head. "No," she said. "It's..." she sighed. "I just remembered that we have an opening for a Librarian. At the Golden Oak library."
Sunny blinked. "Librarian," she repeated. "That might be nice. I like reading." Sunny watched Mayor Tiara for another moment, then bit her lip. "Is there something I need to know?" she asked gently.
Mayor Tiara glanced up, then shook her head and wiped away a tear. "No," she said. "It's just... we just lost our old librarian a few weeks ago. We were hoping that her husband might want to stick around and take the job, but he and his family moved to Canterlot to be closer to relatives..."
Sunny bowed her head. "I'm sorry," she said.
Mayor Tiara shook her head. "Not your fault," she said. "But still: thank you." She stared back down at the floor for a moment, then forced a smile and looked up. "Well," she said, "If you're interested, the job doesn't pay well, considering, but it comes with an apartment on the second floor."
Sunny raised her eyebrows. "Sounds good to me," she said.
Mayor Tiara nodded. "Good," she said. "Go and see Mrs. Cake at Sugarcube Corner, then--she has the keys. If you like it, come back and see me again."
Sunny bowed. "I will," she said. "And thank you."
Mayor Tiara watched Sunshine pick up her suitcase, then turn and walk out the front door. She continued to stare at the door, long after it had swung shut.
* * *
Mrs. Pumpkin Cake-Doughnut threw her shoulder against the door, and, reluctantly, it swung open. "I hope you like it," she said, as she stepped inside and lit the lanterns with a spark from her horn. "The apartment's a little small, but the last family was very happy here, and the kids would so love to check out books again..."
Sunshine stepped inside, set down her bag, and placed her hat carefully on top. "I hope so, too," she said quietly, looking around her with wide eyes.
Mrs. Cake was already yanking the sheets off the furniture. "Good memories here," she called. "The last librarian tried to make it a friendly place... storytimes, and games, and even dances for the teens..."
Sunny walked to one of the bookshelves, lifted the sheet with her wing, and read a few of the titles. "She sounds like a good person," she said.
"Oh," Mrs. Cake replied, straightening the wooden bust on the reading table, "she was. I think everyone in town liked her."
Mrs. Cake watched Sunny out of the corner of her eye as she slowly walked around the room, examining everything with a quiet, thoughtful air. She paused at the doorway leading to the basement, where someone had marked off a series of heights in pencil, with a name and date next to each.
"Y-you can paint over those, I'm sure," Mrs. Cake said nervously.
Sunny continued to stare. "I'm not sure I will," she murmured, half to herself.
Mrs. Cake watched her for a moment longer, then cleared her throat. "I'll go make tea," she volunteered.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Cake came downstairs, holding two steaming teacups in her magic. She looked around for Sunny--and, to her surprise, found her standing still, staring at something on the wall.
Mrs. Cake walked up to her and quietly passed her a teacup, Sunny wordlessly took it with a wing, then nodded at the wall. "Who's that?" she asked reverently.
Mrs. Cake looked up. On the wall was a portrait in a golden frame. In it, a lavender unicorn sat in an armchair, glasses perched on her nose, staring out at the viewer with a small, warm, smile.
"That," Mrs. Cake said, "was our last librarian--Twilight Sparkle was her name." She sighed. "She was a good pony--good as I ever knew--and I've known quite a few ponies in my time," she said with a chuckle. "She never really sought for fame or recognition--she was just content to stay in her own little sphere, and to help everypony that she could. Oh," she said, setting the teacup down, "there are more famous ponies--ponies who, have perhaps, done more to help--but Twilight was special. I think that everypony she ever touched is going to remember her as long as they live." Mrs. Cake sighed, then looked over at Sunny. "I think you would have liked her, too, if you had met her."
Sunny was quiet for a long moment. "I think," she said, her voice small and distant, "that I already have... though, for the life of me, I can't remember..."
Mrs. Cake looked into Twilight's big, loving eyes for a moment, then turned to Sunny. She frowned. "Is everything alright?" she asked.
Sunny seemed to start awake. She picked up a hoof, and dabbed at the tears on her cheek. "I think so," she said, mystified.
Mrs. Cake swallowed. "Then, uh... why are you crying?"
Sunny stared at her own hoof a moment longer. "I don't know," she said, in genuine confusion.
Sunny wiped her eyes with her hoof, then cleared her throat and looked up at the portrait. She stared at it for another moment, then turned to Mrs. Cake. "I'll take it," she said firmly.
Mrs. Cake smiled brightly. "Good," she said. "I hope you're happy here."
Sunny smiled. "I think I will be."
* * *
Sunny woke with the dawn.
She woke suddenly and completely, from a deep, dreamless sleep, refreshed and well-rested. She smiled to herself, rolled out of bed, and walked to the little kitchenette. She stifled a yawn, filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove, then cut herself a slice of her "Welcome to Ponyville!" cake that Mrs. Cake had brought by late the night before. She took a bite of the cake, then looked around the apartment and sighed happily. It looked a little lonely, true, with just her bed and her suitcase to fill the big room--but, while others might have found the sight depressing, for Sunny, it was inspiring. Empty space for her to do whatever she wanted.
When the teakettle began to sing, Sunny took it off the heat, filled a little teacup she'd found in the cupboard with steaming water, and set it on a plate next to the slice of cake. Sunny took the plate in her teeth, walked to the balcony, and threw the door open. Her eyes widened, and she gasped through her clenched teeth.
The sun was just beginning to peek over the hills, bathing the valley in warm, orange light. The trees in the apple orchard swayed gently in the breeze, filling the air with the scent of green, growing things. Below her, she could see the milkman pulling his cart, carefully putting bottles of milk on each doorstep, and, a few streets away, a paperboy making his rounds. Somewhere, a bird was singing. And there--the river that ran around all of Ponyville cut across the landscape, winding back and forth, a golden ribbon in the sunrise.
Sunny smiled. She walked to the edge of the balcony, set down her plate, then sat beside it and dangled her legs over the edge. She took a sip of her tea and a bite of cake, then chewed thoughtfully as she looked out over the town. Time and again, her eye was drawn to the river; the way it ran forward to meet the rising sun somehow filled her heart with joy.
Sunny set down her teacup, then leaned forward and put her elbows on the railing. To her, the river, like the room behind her, was possibility. It carved its own path, going wherever it wanted, racing with arms spread wide to embrace whatever destiny it pleased.
Sunny watched the flowing water for a moment before she giggled to herself. She was like the river, too--she could do whatever she wanted. True, Mayor Tiara had been very generous, and it would be wrong to leave her in a bind, but that didn't mean she needed to stay here forever. Maybe, after a few months or a year, she would go out adventuring. Explore the wide, beautiful world and see what was in it. Maybe she would go to school, and study something crazy and fun, like dance or poetry. Maybe she could get a job with the weather patrol, wrangling storms and fighting blizzards. Or maybe she would even find a nice stallion, settle down somewhere, and raise a family. After all, the last librarian seemed to have been quite happy here--maybe she could be, as well.
But--Sunny took a deep breath of early-morning air and smiled. Whatever it was she did, she was going to do her best to do her part. Try to help as many as she could. Do whatever she needed to make ponies happy.
She had to--for the good of Equestria.