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// Prompt #408: First Impressions 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
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"And here's the key to your new home," said Mayor Mare, hoofing over a key to a grey mare with a blue-grey mane.

"Thank you kindly, Miss Mayor," said Brush Stroke, levitating the key over to a nearby table, "though I must ask, why was this house so cheap? I was expecting something this nice to cost nearly twice as much."

"Well," said Mayor Mare, "This isn't Manehatten. We're just a small town, and we do believe in fair pricing. But there is one other thing, however. You are in what we have recently been calling the 'Twilight Zone'."

"Yes, after Princess Twilight Sparkle," said Brush, shifting a box of paints off the back of one of the delivery ponies that was unloading the cart outside her new home. "We are quite close to the castle, really."

"In a manner of speaking, yes," said Mayor Mare, "I shall leave you to unpack your belongings, Miss Stroke, and I do look forwards to seeing some of your artwork on the walls of homes around Ponyville in the near future."

Brush Stroke nodded, and returned to supervising the unpacking of her belongings, a task that lasted well into the night.

******

Dawn broke over Ponyville, the sunbeams filtering through the slightly threadbare curtains in Brush Stroke's new bedroom, and landing on her face. She slowly stretched out, and took in a deep breath of the fresh air of Ponyville, and a contented smile spread its way across her face. She had a lazy moorning, unpacking several more boxes, and rearranging furniture to her liking until her stomach growled out in protest, and Brush Stroke decided that she may as well head out and see some more of Ponyville.

Then her whole house shuddered. Brush headed for her front door, only to find that a pony was stuck halfway through it, only her head poking out on the inside of the door.

"Hello," said Princess Twilight Sparkle, "I normally don't barge in like this-" There was a groan from the other side of the door, "-but I'm still not entirely used to my wings, and I couldn't stop in time."

Brush Stroke's mouth worked open and closed as she tried to find the right combination of angry and not yelling at a princess of Equestria. Twilight jerked backwards as somepony on the other side of the door pulled.

"Not so hard, Rainbow Dash!" said Twilight. There was a muffled reply from somepony - probably Rainbow Dash- as Twilight jerked backwards again. 

"Well, it was nice to meet you," said Twilight, as she jerked backwards again, frowning, "Though you must think me terribly rude. I've burst through your door, and I haven't even asked your name."

"Brush Stroke, your highness," said Brush, her mouth on autopilot.

"Pleased to meet you, Brush Stroke," said Twilight, "and I'll take care of the door, so don't worry about it. And welcome to Ponyville!" said Twilight, as with one final yank, she was pulled out of the hole in Brush's door with a shower of wooden splinters.