The streets of Canterlot were filled with an eerily uncomfortable mist and the clouds overhead were thick. Not even the moon could break through the clouds as our hooves clopped against the paved walkways. I felt as if we were being watched, as if Celestia or a squadron of royal guards would jump out from around any corner.
“I’m surprised you didn’t know. Even out on the road you really never heard anything?” Fresh Coat asked over his shoulder.
“N-no… I didn’t even know the Mare in the Moon was real. I just assumed she was some old pony tale.”
“You and the rest of Equestria. I guess you don’t really see it much during the day, but at night, security around Canterlot gets doubled. So many different ponies have been pouring in, there aren’t really any spare beds around.” I couldn’t help but swallow a bit nervously.
“So if there aren’t any spaces available, then where are we headed...?” We had, by this time, gone down many twists and turns. I had really lost track of which turns we had taken and when.
“Oh, you’ll see, It’s a... lovely place,” Fresh Coat said cheerfully, making me desperately wish I could believe that. Suddenly he came to a stop and opened a small gate, its door shrieking as we passed through. The lawn appeared overgrown and I could see several items poking through the grass, but the mist seemed to conceal it. I felt nervous as we drew closer to the hovel. Something seemed to be splattering the sides of the building, giving it a more ominous appearance.
Fresh Coat continued trotting forward as if the world around him simply didn’t matter, ignoring the trash and rather tall grass that was beginning to graze our barrels. The yard and the hovel we were approaching felt abandoned. The light of the nearby street lamps didn’t seem to reach the building only adding to my growing apprehension. Fresh Coat began to hum a small tune, oblivious to my feelings.
What am I doing? Even foals know better than to just follow strangers so easily, I thought as I nearly tripped over a stray stick. What would Celestia say if she saw me doing this now? She would think I was an utter fool! I was paying slightly more attention now. Fortunately, it was just enough attention to prevent myself from running into Fresh Coat’s flank.
Was I always this dumb? I don’t recall always being this dumb, I continued mentally grilling myself as Fresh Coat reached the door. Slowly he turned his head, the dim lighting giving him a rather sinister appearance.
“Welcome to my home!” he declared proudly.
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As the door swung open, I wasn’t sure what I had been expecting, but it hadn’t been this. Beyond the door was a rather open home, the sitting room and dining quarters seeming to have been combined. A set of stairs seemed to lead away towards an upper floor. However, none of these places held as much interest for me as the two ponies sitting at the simple square table.
A board game with several interconnecting square tiles and arranged pony figurines covered the table. The two ponies appeared to be engaged in some sort of epic battle. We had entered during the final climax of a war. The pony to the left, who had lavender hair, threw down a final card. It must have been effective, because as he played it, what I can only assume was his rival’s last pony figurine was laid low.
“Nooooo!” a pale pink mare cried dramatically. “Celestia, why have you forsaken me?!” She flopped face-first against the table. The board before her was jolted from its position, scattering the pieces that had been sitting upon it. The lime green stallion with the purple hair on the other side threw his hooves in the air.
“What did I tell you, Love Lace? You can’t take down the Master!” he laughed as he threw both hooves into the air in victory. Fresh Coat appeared to be slightly embarrassed for the scene we were viewing and coughed slightly to catch their attention. It was the lime pony that spoke first.
“Fresh Coat! You finally made it back! Sooo, you get us any new clients or jobs lined up?” he said in a joking manner. “Or did you spend the entire day… missing me?” The pony dramatically struck a pose and made a kissy face.
“Welcome home, Fresh Coat!” the other pony replied. She seemed cheerful enough. Despite appearing to be overwhelmed by defeat moments earlier, she was now bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Do you perhaps want to enter the world of Ogres and Oubliettes with us? I may not be able to defeat New Scene’s Rat King alone, but together we can overcome!” she boldly declared, a hoof raised in the air.
“Maybe another time,” Fresh Coat replied. “I do have somepony that I would like you two to meet.” I had unintentionally been hiding behind Fresh Coat and only realized this when he stepped aside. The two ponies’ faces became blank and Love Lace quickly knocked Ogres and Oubliettes off the table. It was New Scene who regained composure first and trotted over curiously.
“Sooo,” he said slowly, leaning in to get a better look at me. I leaned back a bit nervously. Trixie may have developed personal boundary issues when trying to show off, but she had nothing on this curious stallion. “Whooooo are you?” he asked.
“Uhhh, Dream...Drops?” I replied a bit uncertainly. Without warning, New Scene pulled back and extended a hoof to me. I took it cautiously and was alarmed when he began to vigorously shake it.
“Nice to meetcha! I am New Scene.” He had a great grin across his face. He seemed nice but his very cheerful disposition reminded me of a certain pink pony. “I work with Fresh Coat to bring all sorts of life to Canterlot through our visual arts.” I wanted to ask him a question but before I could, Love Lace stepped forward.
“Hello, I’m Love Lace!” She did a quick curtsy before extending her hoof for a shake. “I’m not quite as artistically gifted as Fresh Coat and New Scene, but I make a pretty mean apron or pillow from time to time.” she added with a wink. “I currently work for a stallion and mare matching company.” She looked between me and Fresh Coat quickly. “Sooo, are you here for dinner-”
“Orrrrrrrr?” New Scene cut in looking more quickly between myself and Fresh Coat.
“Cool it, you two,” Fresh Coat said with a smile. “She’s here because she’s looking for a room.” New Scene pouted for about thirty seconds before recovering his smile and Love Lace just clapped her hooves excitedly.
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It had taken me more than several minutes to process what was happening. In fact, even as I watched, I still couldn’t believe it was happening. Near the bed, Lovelace was spreading out a delicate-looking quilt and tossing a couple of pillows on top. New Scene and Fresh Coat were scooting in a desk and making sure it fit just right. A sickening feeling was building in my stomach. I grabbed Fresh Coat and quickly pulled him aside
“Fresh Coat, I’m not sure I can afford this.” I whispered frantically. He smiled calmly and replied in a happy voice.
“Oh, don’t worry too much about that! I’m sure you can afford it,” he replied jovially as, I must confess, I did feel an urge to punch the stallion. He smiled softly at me, the way an adult might look at a young filly for worrying about monsters under the bed. He ruffled my mane and shouted, “Now, c’mon! I bet you’re gonna wanna sleep after dinner, and this room won’t get itself ready!” before trotting back cheerfully back into the room. For a fleeting moment, I envied his confidence that everything was going to be alright and would just magically work itself out. I followed him back into the room reluctantly.
“Wait, are you sure? I don’t want to inconvenience you. Are you sure these are items you can spare?” I asked, biting my lip. The quilt was lovely, but such blankets couldn’t be cheap and the desk looked quite difficult to move. I didn’t even know what currency these ponies were using. I couldn’t guarantee that I would be able to make enough bits to afford this place - the price was a detail that Fresh Coat had neglected to share. My question went unnoticed or was subsequently ignored, because nopony bothered answering.
“Dinner should be ready about now!” Love Lace suddenly noted, glancing at the new clock they had put on my wall. New Scene’s stomach then rumbled and the three laughed and led the way towards dinner. I was torn between staying in the room - after all, I hadn’t been explicitly invited - or following after them.
“C’mon, Dream Drops, we’re having four-cheese ravioli that’s amazing. The stallion at the pasta shop down a few blocks makes some of the best in Canterlot,” Love Lace called to me with a smile. She then squinted her eyes and looked over her shoulder before continuing in a whisper. “Besides, if you wait too long, Fresh Coat will eat it all.” The knot in my stomach twisted. I couldn’t likely afford the room or any of the items in it, and Fresh Coat had provided me with lunch earlier, but here I was about to go and eat their food again. Still, I had no better options and followed after with a small smile.
Dinner was a mix between a conversation and a battlefield. The ravioli had been arranged into a precarious looking pyramid at the center of the table. Sauce and melted cheese flowed freely from the top down, only making the pile more unstable. Every pony had a fork and a plate in front of them. While everyone tried to carry pleasant conversations it was clear that their minds were heavily focused on the ravioli they were fighting for.
It seemed so natural, four ponies sitting around a table, talking, eating, laughing.
But it wasn’t. Because these weren’t just any ponies.
We were 3 friends and a stranger.
A stranger who they were letting stay with them.
Normally one wouldn’t just whip a room together and roll out the carpet for somepony they hadn’t ever met. Let alone let that same stranger sleep in their house for free.
It was so unnatural. It didn’t make sense.
“Why?” I asked.
“Why what?” New Scene asked first, Fresh Coat’s muzzle was stuffed with ravioli and while he made an effort to say something. “Oh,” he said, chewing with his muzzle full, “if it’s about the ravioli, I can explain. See, if you don’t stuff your face, this guy-” he pointed a hoof at Fresh Coat- “will eat it so fast, it’ll be gone before you know it.”
“WHM! MEEHH!?” Fresh Coat swung his head towards his friend indignantly, though it wasn’t very effective. His stuffed cheeks made him look like a grumpy squirrel and it was almost impossible to understand what he was saying with his mouth so full. He started making several gestures with his forelegs.
“Wha-” I was a bit caught off guard, as these two had a way of unintentionally hijacking a conversation and steering it in the direction they wanted. “N-no, I mean...” I took a deep breath. “Why help me? I mean, you’ve been so nice, but you don’t even know me. W-what if I was some master thief or a con artist?” I asked. Love Lace had a genuinely surprised expression on her face, as if I could be anything other than Dream Drops. While her hoof was to her mouth, Fresh Coat managed to choke down the ravioli in his muzzle.
I felt my eyes water as if I was about to cry.
It didn’t make sense - one normally cries because they are hurting or sad but… I was neither of those things. Still, a few tears managed to escape; perhaps I was feeling overwhelmed? I couldn’t understand what these ponies were thinking. In fairness, I hadn’t really understood what I was thinking for most of the evening. Fresh Coat thought for a moment before answering her question.
“Questions like that. Questions like that prove you can’t be either of those things. After all, you would be a pretty terrible thief or con artist if you made us think that you might be one.” New Scene nodded in agreement before throwing in his own two bits.
“But to answer your question, a very long time ago, somepony did this for us. We showed up out of the blue, two dumb colts with a dream and not a bit to rub between our hooves. There wasn’t anyone who would take us in or was willing to help back our dream. Then she found us.” He leaned forward and wiped the tear away.
“Like you, we were invited into her home. She made up two rooms and fed us a wonderful dinner, made us feel like we were at home. Offered to take us in as long as we did three things.” Fresh Coat continued as he laid a hoof on my withers.
“One, do your best,” Love Lace started speaking, rising from her chair.
“Two, even if you can’t pay rent now, help where you can. Worry about rent when you actually start making bits,” she walked around the table to me.
“And the third thing?” I asked.
“Never turn down a free hug.” They said in unison. The three ponies pressed against me as they gave me a hug. If I had been overwhelmed before, things were well over my head now. This whole situation was a bit insane.
I was still just a stranger.
In a house with three ponies, who might be a bit too giving for their own good.
Being offered shelter and support to get on my own hooves.
They didn’t know who I was, not really. Then again - I got the sense that they wouldn’t care even if they did know.
And now all three of them were hugging me.
Normally I would have just pulled away, resisted this closeness, this level of affection. But, for once this evening, I decided to not think and just enjoy the moment.