//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Ready For Friendship Operations // Story: The Reaper // by Blade Trail //------------------------------// Two days had passed since Reaper’s arrival in Ponyville. Daring Do had left almost immediately after Twilight and her friends had agreed to take him in. Twilight had happily thrown herself into the library to study the portal and research interdimensional transportation soon after. She had initially dragged Starlight, Spike, and Reaper along with her, but after a few hours, she noticed that they didn’t share her enthusiasm for hard study and reluctantly let them go. Reaper hadn’t seen her since. That left it up to Starlight and Spike to show Reaper around. Brandishing an absurdly long scroll containing a checklist of things to do from Twilight, the pair had shown Reaper around the castle, given him his own room, and generally tried all they could to make him feel welcome. Reaper had borne it all with his usual stoicism, opting not to share or react to the myriad comments Reyes’ voice made in his head. It wasn’t that difficult. Starlight and Spike, while genuinely friendly, seemed like they were just going through the motions themselves, so they didn’t really expect much from him. But that had been in the castle. Today, they were touring Ponyville with Reaper, and their spirits were high. “Quills...and Sofas,” Reaper read aloud. “Yup,” Spike said. “And that’s exactly what they sell. Plus beds. Sometimes.” Reaper gave his two guides an incredulous look. “I thought it was pretty weird too,” Starlight said. “But it’s one of Ponyville’s oldest and most well known establishments. Davenport, the pony who runs the place, is pretty nice too...if a little aggressive.” As if on cue, Davenport walked out of his store at that moment. He spotted the trio and approached with a smile. “Hey there, Starlight and Spike! Here for a new batch of quills for the Princess?” he said. “How about you, little guy? Haven’t seen you around before. Welcome to Ponyville! Need a sofa? How about a sofa bed? Let me show you around the store, and I’m sure we’ll find something that catches your eye!” Reaper’s fingers twitched, but he refrained from shooting Davenport. Instead, he settled for a glare and a scowl. Seeing Reaper’s reaction, Spike intervened. “Uh, no thanks, Davenport! We’re just passing through. Giving our new friend Reaper here a tour of the town.” “Reaper, huh?” Davenport said. “Interesting name. You a farmer, son? ‘Cause I have a set of sofas perfect for any farming homestead! I’ve had members of the Apple family come all the way from Appleloosa just for a chance to put one of my sofas in their homes! Let me tell you, nothing helps soothe weary muscles after a long day’s work on the farm like a break on one of my special -” “O-kay, Davenport!” Starlight interrupted. “Nice to see you, but we’ve still got a lot to do today, so maybe some other time. Bye!” Starlight picked up Reaper with her magic and deposited him on her back before trotting away, Spike hot on her heels. “Come back soon! We’re open every day!” Davenport called after them. “Sorry about that,” Starlight apologized to Reaper. “Like I said, nice guy, but aggressive salespony.” At least he wasn’t trying to sell us insurance, Reyes’ voice said. Or real estate. Remember the last guy? Deliberately tracked us, a wanted murderer, just to try and sell a timeshare. Those guys have no fear. Suddenly, Reaper’s vision was filled with pink. “Hi, Reaper! Hi, Starlight! Hi, Spike!” Pinkie Pie said in quick succession as she pulled the group into a large hug, her hooves somehow wrapping around all of them at once. Reaper grunted as Pinkie’s grip tightened. She smiled widely as she rose up on her hind hooves and lifted the group up into the air. Starlight and Spike, however, were not as enthusiastic. “Pinkie!” Starlight managed to say. “Air!” “Whoops!” Pinkie said, giggling as she put the group down. “Sorry! I don’t know why, but I’m just extra happy to see you all today!” That pink pony is stronger than she looks, Reyes’ commented. Wasn’t she just supposed to be a baker? “I guess you could say I can do a surprising amount of damage,” Pinkie said, eyeing Reaper. “I’m mainly a party planner, by the way.” Reaper’s eyes went wide. “Wait, can you -” A loud explosion emanated from Twilight’s castle, shattering a few windows on the upper floors and interrupting Reaper. “I’M OKAY!” Twilight’s magically amplified voice rang out. Spike sighed. “I better go check up on Twilight,” he said. “Sorry to bail on you like this, Reaper.” “Just go,” Reaper said, somewhat uncomfortable with Spike’s consideration. “Don’t worry, Spike,” Starlight said. “I’ll take care of the rest of the tour and we’ll meet you back at the castle soon.” Spike nodded. “Thanks, Starlight. See you guys later!” As Spike jogged back to the castle, Pinkie glanced up at Ponyville’s clock tower and gasped. “Oh my gosh! Look at the time!” she exclaimed. “I better get back to Sugarcube Corner if I wanna finish baking enough treats to make up for the ones I gave Trixie before closing time!” Starlight went stiff. “Oh no...was that today?!” she asked in panic. “If you mean Trixie’s last show in Ponyville before she goes off on her Equestria-wide revival tour, then yes! That’s today!” Pinkie said with her usual exuberance. “Oh no! Ohnoohnoohno!” Starlight said, trotting in place. “With all that’s been happening, I completely forgot! I promised Trixie I’d be there to send her off!” “Well, if you go now, you can still make it to the second half of the act,” Pinkie pointed out. “I left during the intermission.” “Really? Yes!” Starlight said, perking up. She started to leave, then stopped and turned back to Reaper. “Wait, your tour! I can’t just leave you here all alone! And I don’t think letting Trixie know I missed the first half of her show because I was hanging out with a new friend on the day she’s supposed to leave is the best idea...” “Look,” Reaper said. “I’ll just head back to the castle and - AH!” Reaper cried out as Pinkie grabbed him and tossed him into the air, where he flipped end over end until he landed on upright on her soft mane with a light poof. “I got this, Starlight!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Reaper can come spend the day with me instead!” “ThanksPinkieyou’realifesaver!” Starlight said rapidly. “Gottagobye!” With that, Starlight dashed off, leaving Reaper with Pinkie Pie. Pinkie smiled and started bouncing in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. “That settles it! You’re coming with me, Commander!” she said happily. “We are gonna have so much fun!” Reaper scowled. “I don’t do fun,” he grumbled. “Then how do you feel about pie?” Pinkie asked, as enthusiastic as ever. Pie sounds good, Reyes’ voice chimed in. Haven’t had pie in - wait a minute, how does she know we’re a commander? Reaper found himself thrown deep into Pinkie’s mane as she suddenly picked up speed and zoomed the rest of the way to Sugarcube Corner as a pink blur.