“I think I’m going to like it here,” I say to myself, and everypony turns to look at me.
“What was that, sugarcube?” Applejack asks.
A little flushed at the sudden attention, I look away. “Well, I’m brand new here… and your hospitality just makes me feel… more welcomed than I should be. With Derpy lending me a hand- I mean, hoof in housing, it’s more than I feel I deserve.”
The mares around the table all look at each other, silently communicating with one another. Fluttershy is the first one to speak. “Of course, Melody. Just being with you for a few hours is enough to know you’re a good pony that needs friends. A good pony that is just as kind, if not more so than those around her…”
Fluttershy suddenly realizes it was her comment that was first, and she hides behind her mane, albeit not as hidden as before. “Well of course,” Applejack added, “You’re a decent mare that needs ponies like us in your life. Derpy is an amazing mare, I’ll tell you that. She wouldn’t hurt a fly, and taking you in must make her feel wonders about how she feels about herself.”
That made sense. The way Derpy makes sure to take care of me, even after such a short time of knowing me… I never really asked why. Why would she do this for me? All of this? And yet, here I am, making new friends, all because of that first one. They may not… may not compare to Carol and Ben, but… these are good people too. Ponies or not, however crazy this situation still seems to me.
“Yeah, you’re pretty awesome,” Rainbow waves nonchalantly, and I can’t help but smile at her own seeming lack of care.
“You may have your failings, but they certainly don’t compare to the attitude you bring,” Rarity implores, “Though I have yet to understand your inexplicable hatred to being fitted, of all things.”
“Like you would like to know,” I jibe, and we all chuckle a little.
“Plus, if Pinkie likes you, as in, just as much as us, that’s certainly something,” Twilight says, “And as for me, you are a great pony, Melody. We may still not know much about you, but you have the potential. I’m not the Princess of Friendship for nothing.”
“Whoa whoa whoa, what?” I ask, burning my gaze into Twilight, “You’re a Princess?”
Twilight’s cheeks redden, and I immediately feel bad for putting my attention solely on her. “Yeah, I am. I’m not royalty or anything, if that’s what you’re wondering, I just received the title and the castle because of achieving something nopony has done before. Or that’s what Princess Celestia told me, in any case…”
“So basically, that’s what the government wants you to think,” I say, remembering a joke I had found on the interwebs once.
“I guess.”
“Cool,” I finally say, and we begin dessert. It turns out to be some sort of apple pie, and I thank the chef, who turns out to be Applejacks grandma, Granny Smith (go figure). I also meet a nice little girl (filly?) by the name of Apple Bloom. Turns out, she’s Applejack’s sister, and I certainly have no idea what that mischievous little glint in her eye meant.
After that nice meal, we ended up at Fluttershy’s Cottage, a nice little place at the edge of the Everfree (a reportedly dangerous place, which I hope I never have to go into). Filled with animals and nice little critters of all kinds, it actually really smells like a posh zoo.
“This is my home,” Fluttershy states quite proudly, “I take care of any animals who come looking for help. Their all real nice, especially Harry the Bear.” Just then, I could feel big furry arms come and grip me tight, squeezing the life out of me. Glancing up, I nearly shriek at the sight of a full grown bear nuzzling and hugging me tightly. As the initial panic leaves, I find he is actually very warm.
As he growls, Fluttershy giggles. “Harry says he’s sorry if he caused you any worry.”
“N-no, it’s quite alright,” I say, laughing nervously. “This is a real nice place you have here.”
“Thank you,” Fluttershy smiles, “I try my best to make it as homely for the animals as possible.”
“And this tea is great as well. What is it?”
“I believe it’s a mixture of chamomile and mint as well as a little honey,” Rarity explains, taking a sip from her own cup.
“Well, hey,” I say, “That’s pretty good.”
“Yes, yes it is,” Twilight murmurs, enjoying her own cup. Turning to Applejack, I see she’s already drank most of it, mostly remaining silent as she doesn’t seem to have anything to add to the conversation.
“Not much into talk about this kind of stuff?” I ask.
“Nah, not really,” Applejack says, finishing her tea, “But I know my stuff. I don’t call ponies ‘sugarcube’ for nothin’.”
“Huh,” I say. Never really thought of that. Rainbow Dash on the other hoof decided to stay outside of the house, not much for tea or I feel, hanging out inside a home filled with animals. Personally, I think she’s afraid of the bunny, who I can certainly say is one devilish little runt, but other than that, meh.
“Pinkie? Derpy?” I ask, watching the two ponies flying towards me after we left Fluttershy’s humble abode.
“Yep!” Derpy cries, waving a hoof.
“You know it!” Pinkie shouts.
“Took ya long enough!” Rainbow shouted, “It felt like we spent hours at Fluttershy’s!” Realizing what she had just said, she quickly turned to us, waving her hooves around. “Not that Fluttershy is boring or anything! Nyope, did not mean that!”
We all raise an eyebrow at Rainbow, who begins to look like she’s sweating nervously, just before we all shrug and turn our attention back to the mares coming right at us. “So, how was your little endeavour, Pinkie?” I ask, and she sort of looks sad for a moment.
“Well, I couldn’t really find her. It’s really weird, I could’ve sworn I saw her just a few minutes ago…”
“Too bad,” I say, “It’s alright Pinkie, maybe another time.”
“Alright,” Pinkie says, before poofing back up into her natural state. “That reminds me! I saw you all having fun while I was searching! I need to ask my friends how it went!”
“Or you could just ask me,” I remark.
“If I do that, then you can’t talk to Derpy and get this whole thing over with!” Pinkie states before zooming off to talk with the rest of the gang.
“What?” is all I can muster as I watch her ecstatically interact with the five mares I had gotten to know better in the past few hours.
“Pinkie is a little-”
“Weird, yeah,” I complete Derpy’s thought.
“So, how was your day?” Derpy asks, “It looks like Pinkie abandoned you and left you with the rest of the Elements.”
“Yeah.” I then realize something she had said. “Wait, Elements?”
“Their the Elements of Harmony,” Derpy states nonchalantly, “Well, they were, until they had to put them back into the Tree of Harmony.”
“The what into the what of who now?” I question, a bit lost.
“It doesn’t really matter in the long run. What matters is if you’ve made new friends.” Derpy hugs me, and I hug back. “Have you made new friends?”
“Yes, Derpy,” I say with a roll of my eyes, “No thanks to you and your hospitality.”
“It wasn’t all me,” Derpy says, “Ninety percent of making friends is the person wanting to make friends, you know.”
“And how would you know that percentage?” I inquire.
“I don’t. I just know,” Derpy grins, and I can’t help but smile.
“Well, looks like we’re going our separate ways now,” Derpy says, both of us watching as the six mares wave goodbye and Derpy and I wave back. “I guess it’s time to go home.”
“Yeah,” I smile, feeling the best I have in a long time.
I will find you eventually, Carol, Ben. You can count on that.
But for right now, I must focus on the present, and if that means making new friends and having a good life, then so be it.
Thank you, my friends.
I think I’m gonna like it here.