//------------------------------//
// Setting Things Up 
// Story: The Author 
// by nicojaller 
//------------------------------//

I sit myself in what seems to be Twilight's desk, it surrounded by books, yeah ,what would you expect. Spike did bring us some tea and to be honest, it's really good, even if I wasn't really the biggest fan of tea back home. Funny, I'm starting to refer as reality as back home, I don't even know anymore, I'll start to say that, because at this point, it is way more likely that all of this is real, although I could very well just be in a coma. But, the fact that I feel so many things in such a long period, that's what tends to make me think this is real. Honestly, I don't want this to be reality, not that this isn't cool, just that in a dream, there is no real consequences if I fail, in a real situation, I fail, I die like everybody else.

I regain my concentration as I notice that Twilight is staring at me, waiting for me to have a semblance of a reaction.

" Oh sorry, I was thinking about something else "

" What was it ? "

" Nothing important, just something I forgot. "

Our conversation starts like that, awkward, I know. We talk like that for a few minutes, asking questions about her personal life, but mostly questions about Ponyville and the surroundings. I try to push for some more precise questions, but they seem to be leading me nowhere for now, I'll try a more direct way.

" This town seems pretty cool from what I saw, and peaceful too, is there any recent events I should be aware of ? You know, just so I am up to date with all the recent news. "

She looks nervous for like, a fraction of a second, before recomposing herself and smiles at me. Only that is sufficient for me to guess that something did happened, well, no shit, things always happens. It's not that big of a clue.

" Oh, nothing of importance, just little incident, you know ? Some disputes, and normal shenaningans that occurs in small towns like ours. At least, nothing than cannot be resolved easily. "

Great, it still tells me nothing, I start to really get annoyed, answers always seems to get away. I can't push further than that without looking suspicious. I start thinking about other solutions, when she continues.

" Well, if you want to be perfectly up to date, there's the Grand Galloping Gala upcoming, I'm sure you're already aware of it. I mean, who isn't ? I even got tickets for it ! Well, it lead to more troubles, but that's a long story. Oh my, I'm rambling. Sorry.  "

Well, that was easier than expected, thank god. She just gave me the answers by herself. Ok, so I arrived sometime before the Grand Gala. I have no idea when Vlad'Mor arrived in this timeline, there is two events where he could include himself, the Gala in himself, or during the whole Discord thing, well, this the closest two major events to occur in the show, but from what I've heard from Celestia, it doesn't make sense. From what she said to me, when Vlad'Mor first showed himself, she sent Discord to deal with him. For that to happen, Discord must have been at least reformed for the first time, which only happens in season 3. He only get definitively reformed in season 4 after the whole Tirek thing, so why send me back all the way to the end of season 1 ? I know Celestia's the ultimate troll, but I don't think trolling was here first priority at that moment, if it was and that whole thing's a prank, I don't even know what I would do.

" Oh no problem, it's really great for you if you're able to go! I mean, I'm not that interested in those kind of events to be honest, but I know some people who dreams of going there, who gave you tickets. "

" It was my mentor and teacher, Princess Celestia, at the same time it did sent her a friendship report, so everybody won in that situation, I would say. "

" Myself, I would say that you have pretty great contacts, but what is a friendship report ? "

Then she goes, and on, about things that I already know, but for the sake of my cover, I have to listen to. At least, it gave me a good refresh of the season events, which will come in handy. If questionned, at least I'll know what to answer, not like it is likely to happen, it's not, but I prefer to be cautious. 

I stand up, and do respectuous nod to Twilight, preparing myself to leave.

" Well, that was all I needed to now, miss Sparkle, I won't take much more of your time, it was really useful, I really appreciate it. Oh by the way, would you have a room to rent ? "

Well, there is a guest room that I never actually used myself, I guess you could stay there, if you don't snore that is, generally I study late at night. 

" Don't worry, I don't make much noise at night, if it isn't any trouble, I'd stay there a couple of days until I have enough bits 
to rent a room elsewhere, well, if I get a job that is. "

" I'm sure you'll be fine, I don't mind helping out for a bit. "

" Thank you very much miss Sparkle, it's greatly appreciated. "

" You're welcome, I know how difficult it is to be new in town, so I'm glad to be able to be of some help. "

" I think I'll have to leave soon, I have someone I have to go meet, thank a lot for your time and for everything. "

" It's been a pleasure, I guess I'll see you later mister "

Spike accompany me to the door, I wish him a good day and leave her house. 

Well, that was an useful visit. Now that's done, I have some other business to do. I now know when I am, now the most important thing is to settle, because it seems I'll be there for a while, waiting for things to happen. If I trust the timeline, would mean not that long to be honest, but I don't know what was the period of time between the two seasons, in fact the timeline in the show is really vague. It could be days, weeks or even months between each events. Well, I'll have to keep myself busy.

I go visit Mayor Mare, I know that she wasn't the most important character in the show, and that in the long term, I won't see her that often, but right now, if I want to find a place to live and a job, this is necessary. 

For the job, I may have an idea, I don't think Ponyville has a local newspaper, if they do, it never has been showcased. The only one we actually saw was the Foal Free Press, the school newspaper, that led to the incident with the CMC gossiping on people. That's one of my favorite episode, for one reason, I love journalism. That's what I want to do in my life, either here or in my world, it doesn't really matter. 

I take a few seconds about my plan, this town could use at least something to read on sunday morning. Receiving their paper and being up to date on local actuality, I think it could do some good. For me, it's really useful, it's more of an excuse to investigate what's going on around here and to keep the Elements on check and of course, to keep me occupied. The Ponyville Weekly, doesn't that have a nice ring to it ?

I arrive in the office of Miss Mayor Mare, to present my project. She smiles at me.

" Good morning, mister, I do not think we've had the honour of meeting before ? "

" No, I'm new, my name's Grey Ink, pleased to meet you ma'am "

" It's a pleasure, so what brings you to my office this afternoon, and to Ponyville being on the subject "

" I thought this would be a nice place to settle down, not as big and lousy as bigger cities that's for sure, as for why I'm here in this office, well I had an idea. "

I spend maybe ten minutes explaining her my project, of course I let some details out, like my biggest personal objective and what purpose this will really serve, but it's better that way. She seems happy and enthusiastic about my project and asks me question about it, of course about administration and more logisitical details. She has been surprisingly generous about this, she was willing to give me the material I needed for the project and a financial back-up. This way more than what I actually asked for, but I won't complain. She then asked me if had any professional experience in it.

Honestly, I never worked in a real newspaper, but I studied in it. 4 years of university, just to not find a job afterwards. Well, I wrote on the Internet, and worked in a fast-food, that was pretty much my life. That is basically what I said to her, well except the Internet part, for obvious reasons. For her, to have the skills necessary was enough, even if I didn't actually showed any proof of studies before. She is weirdly trusting. I think that just the fact that someone wants to build a project like this satisfies her conditions.

" This is an amazing project, I will have a talk with my councillors, but be sure that you will have all the support you need, this is a great initiative that I will gladly support. "

After that honestly, it's not that much interesting, we talk for another ten minutes before I go away, not I trot in the streets once again, it seems that I miscalculed my time because it seems that we are in the evening now. To be honest, this town is nice to see when it's peaceful like that, not like when there's some random shit destroying or attacking it. Well, I can't wait for Discord to return to fuck this all up.

I look at the sky, the sun came down, so it means Luna will take charge. Funny how there is no real transition in this world, well, there is one, but it is way faster, it comes up and down way faster. Which makes sense, because Luna and Celestia are alternating. Well, that's one difference, now that I think about it, by logic we must be on a planet, so how does the universe look ? I mean, if this planet do not gravitate around the sun, and the moon does not gravitate around the planet, so how does it work ? Are the planets the same ? Yeah, it's probably better to leave it at that. I barely understood how it worked on Earth, I wouldn't do better here.

There is one thing that I like more here than on Earth, here I know that if I go walk outside I won't get mugged at every corner. Thank god for that, I doubt there is much criminality at all in fact. Which is a good thing, another human problem that I won't have to encounter here, like I didn't have enough things to worry about.

I make my way back to Twilight's house, I realise that I didn't eat today, but I'm not really hungry anyway, I'll eat when I'll be finished setting up. I wonder what she is up to by the way, she must probably be in her books by now, or with her friends. It's probably time that I go back, because I need to sleep, this has been a very busy day. That's the least I can say, I don't even know I am so calm. I guess I'm more in the present situation right now, and that I am damn tired, I guess reality will come back to haunt me tomorrow, because right now, there's a bed calling me.

I arrive at the tree, strange, there is no light opened, they must have gone to bed early. Not that I'm complaining, just unexpected of her, that's all. I think I hear something, an intruder ? Nah, that must be either Spike getting something to eat or my own imaginations playing tricks on my mind, the second one is most likely.

I open the door, the scene that follows almost causes me to have an heart attack, the light opened in a flash to reveal at least a dozen ponies, maybe fifteen, with a banner on which I could read :


WELCOME TO PONYVILLE, GREY INK !

The time I realise what is going on, I see a bouncing pink mass coming towards me. My brains finally connect before being forced into a bear hug, oh god, my ribs. When she releases me I can only stare at the crowd that was here, until I come to to realisation. The chain of events has started. Now, it is only a matter of time before the show begins.