The sound of a blaring alarm woke up from my sleep, lazily turning over I saw my clock saying 6:30. I brought my hoof over to hit button but to my annoyance the alarm didn’t go off even after I kept hitting it until on fifth try it stopped, making me relax, a bit too soon I might add as fell out of my bed onto the floor of my room.

I groaned as I picked myself up off the floor, fully awake now from the shock of the fall; It shouldn’t be much of a surprize that I wasn’t a morning kind of pony, yeah sure I could get up in an instant but does that mean I want too? No I don’t.
I had ended up falling asleep shortly after arriving at my house; I had been pondering everything that happened that day and had just drifted off, not before I got a couple important things set up first however. Looking at the nightstand, a single framed picture stood; I picked it up and took a closer look. In the picture stood three orange coated ponies and two purple coated ones, each of them were a member of my family expect for myself of course.

“It’s only been a day and I miss you guys already…” This was actually the first time I had ever been away from my family but I quick dismissed the thoughts I had ‘I’ll be fine on my own.’ I put the picture back down on the nightstand and looked over my room; the room didn’t have much in it only the bed, the nightstand, and a closet that currently only held my bag. The house itself wasn’t much better; it was a simple five room building with kitchen having a dining room table with two chairs and basic cooking equipment, a living room with a couch, coffee table, and a single chair off to the side and fireplace that looks like it hasn’t been used in years, a single bathroom with the basics and two bedrooms, one being mine and the other being completely empty.

By now I had worked my way to the kitchen and was pulling out the bag of goodies I had gotten yesterday, inside were some good old plain muffins that were meant to last until I did some proper shopping. After finishing it I started to head towards the bathroom but noticed something on the top of the table ‘Ah right I left a note for myself about work today… And about these horrible walls.’ Looking at the walls in this house made me sigh; all of them (I do mean all of them.) were a dull tan colour without any variety what so ever, I had taken a personal note to get paint later on to fix this problem.

Stepping out of the bathroom I automatically went to table and looked over the note:

Weather team is to meet up at 7:00 sharp over the fountain in the Ponyville Park for assignments.
Also save bits for cans of paint to fix the walls:
1 deep blue
2 light red
1 deep green

I looked up to a clock I had somehow missed over the table. ‘6:49 huh? I am glad it’s a short flight.’ I quickly placed the note back on the table and made a dash for the door, swinging it open and closed as it fast I could; now outside I turned and saw the same cloud castle from yesterday, frowning in disgust I spread my wings and with a powerful burst took to the sky.

I hadn’t realized until now since I hadn’t flown yet, but ponyville looked even more amazing from the air; every building, plant and pony seemed to add to the town’s beauty as I flew admiring everything I could on my way to the park ‘I wonder how long it will take me see everything ponyville has to offer?’ I thought flying ever onward.

Soon the park came into view and I could already spot a couple pegasi hovering in an area over the fountain standing out amongst the trees, coming closer I could confirm that were in fact four pegasi ‘I knew they were understaffed but this seems a bit extreme.’ One of them turned and faced me and must have realized who I was since he shouted something to others. A mare flew towards but the stupid sun blocked out her colours until she was right in front of my face, that’s when my I saw who she was.

Before me was a cyan mare, her mane and tail were the colour of the rainbows you would see only after a hard rain; her eyes were a magenta that seemed to be looking me over and I remained silent until finally she stopped.

“Are you Rainbow Dash?” She flew back a bit, confidant smirk appearing on her face.

“The one and only!” She did a backflip and pointed to herself. “Why, heard about me?” I nodded.

“Your name kept popping up yesterday when I arrived in ponyville.” This made her smirk into a smile.

“Well I know about you too Cobalt Aqua.” I flew back in surprize she just laughed at my response. “First, almost everypony knows who you are Cobalt, I mean how many ponies pick a fight on their first day and win?” By now she was wiping tears out of her eyes because of how hard she had been laughing. “Besides Twilight as told me about you.” Her smile had faded now as she continued. “You’re gonna have to step up your game.”

“Although I think it’s cool that you can kick flank when it calls for it, it’s not gonna look good as weather team member. Also you’re underage, I know they didn’t ask for your age when you signed up but I still had to lower your points.” I scratched the back of my head after hearing that ‘Crap a point system, and I already lost points.’

“Look Cobalt, if you got any more problems now would be the time to tell me.” I just sighed; I guess I better tell her about my cloud problem shouldn’t I?

“I can’t stand on or move clouds.” I stated rather bluntly, earning a major shocked expression from Rainbow Dash.

Shaking her head at me. “Are you some kind of idiot? That’s like the first thing we are taught about after we can fly!” I cringed at it, I knew my actions lately had been stupid but she didn’t have to put it bluntly like that. “Darn it, I’ll teach you on the job but you got full week duty until you prove your stuff. Got it?” I just nodded at her. “Alright you’ll be clearing clouds for a while, I suggest you start at the farm district and finish at the cloud district.” With that she flew off to inform the other team members of their jobs, that mean she took her work seriously.

“You all know what to do. Dismissed!” With that I flew in the direction of the of sweet apple acres.

Clearing clouds a different kind of experience that never had before today, it was strange really; I mean how often do you crash into a cloud just to have the core made of mist burst around you, then watch the cloud become a fine mist and float to the ground? Not very often unless you work with weather.

By the time I finally finished clearing the sky the celestia’s sun was halfway through the sky and I had swung by the fountain to see if everyone was to gather after finishing work for the day. I found it unsurprising that nopony was there by my third pass of it, so I decided since it was mid-day to grab lunch at Sugarcube Corner; there I meet the Cake’s and their children Pumpkin and Pound. We had talked a small bit and I learned that Pinkie had already left to get my party ready, with that I said my good-byes and left. ‘What should I do now? I guess I could go see Spike and Twilight, after all I got nothing better to do.’

“How ya doin’ Cobalt?” I turned to see Silver and an unfamiliar white unicorn mare, with a rather messy electric blue mane and tail. Her eyes were covered by a pair of overly large purple sunglasses; I swear if you looked into them you could stare into your own soul, only to be further amplified by a crazy smile on her face. He was waving his hoof in front of her by now. “This was the pony I was telling you about yesterday, her name is Vinyl Scratch.”

“Yo, what’s up?” Her expression didn’t change at all. ‘She is way different than what I had imagined, and she looks familiar.’

I gave them a nervous smile. “So what are you guys up too?” It surprized me to hear Vinyl speak rather than Silver. ‘Maybe these two are closer then they look.’

“I am getting Silver to find some old tracks that I lost.” Silver snorted after hearing that making both of us look at him.

“Well maybe you wouldn’t lose things so often if you cleaned up your house every once and while.” I just faced hooved after hearing that. “Anyway what are you gonna do now Cobalt?”

“I was thinking of seeing Spike and Twilight, I only really know them and you after all.” Silver had a small grin forming on his face. ‘You better keep your mouth shut if you say what I think you’re gonna say.’

“You got a thing for little Miss Twilight don’t you?” I groaned loud enough that even some ponies that were passing by stopped and stared at me. “So how did you three meet anyway?”

“First off I don’t have a thing for Twilight. And for how we meet, are you sure you got time for it?” I looked at Vinyl her smile was gone as she brought her hoof up in thought, she then said something to Silver which I didn’t quite catch and then went off after brushing rather closely to him. ‘There really is something up with those two.’

“I’ll meet up with Vinyl later, so… can you tell me?” I nodded and began…

“The library was place I would often find myself going, it was there that I could find some bliss from the fillies and foals that picked on me and my sister. It almost always after a fight that I would end up going there, sometimes Sugar would come with me but not often since she preferred the comfort of home unlike me. Normally I would be greeted with the friendly face of the old librarian mare, but that day things would be different.”

The familiar creek of the doors echoed through my head as I entered the lower floor of the canterlot library.

“Miss Hard Cover?” She was the local librarian, I meet her when I was ten and she had been watching over me since then with a friendly smile. This was weird where is she? She normally would have welcomed me by now? Hearing hoofsteps coming from the stairs above. I sighed with relief, and gasped a second later.

What came down from the stairs (If school taught me correctly.) was dragon, a really young one.

“Is miss Hard Cover around?” I asked bluntly, still pondering why there was dragon here. The dragon just simply turned around and called up the stairs.

“Twilight! Got a pony here asking what happened to miss Hard Cover!” It wasn’t long before another voice was heard.
“In a minute Spike!” Surely enough after several minutes the sound of hoofsteps could be heard above me again. Soon after a lavender coated filly came into view, my guess is that this was Twilight. She didn’t look much older than me, but seemed far smarter by a long shot. “Miss Hard Cover retired yesterday, so if you need anything Spike or I will assist you.” She turned and started head back up the stairs but stopped without turning she said one final before disappearing from sight. “Since I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

“That’s it?” Silver asked after I had finished my small tale, by now we had found our way to library and were finishing up conversation.

“Leaving all out the failed attempts at trying to make Twilight my friend and having it shoved back in my face, and the chats I had with Spike that’s it. Now shouldn’t you get back to Vinyl before she starts to worry?” He shrugged at that and went towards the music district.

“Well this takes a lot off my mind, thanks Cobalt I’ll see you at the party!” I just watched Silver go off when the library door opened and I immediately knew what was going on.

“How long were you listening?” I turned and faced Twilight who now stood in the doorway. I was ready to snap at her for eavesdropping and by the looks of it she knew it, her ears down and her expression somewhat scared.

“I’m sorry…” I just stared at her, letting my rage dissipate. “I have always wanted to apologize when I head into canterlot, but I never knew where you lived so I never had the chance...” I still just stared at her. ‘She wanted to apologize all this
time, for celestia’s sake if I only knew I wouldn’t have gotten mad.’

“Well at least we’re friends now right?” I said every ounce of anger gone now as I smile at her to see her returning it. ‘Glad that is over with.’ Looking towards the sky I realized that I spent much more time then I planned to with Silver and was going to be later for the party if I didn’t leave soon. “Hey Twilight, I got a party I got to go to and I can’t be late. So I’ll see you soon okay?”

“Why don’t we go together?” I stopped and looked at her blankly, then just simply nodded.

“What about Spike?” It was her turn to stop now and she was clearly thinking of an excuse.

“He umm… went on ahead! That’s he went on ahead! After all he wouldn’t want to miss your welcome to ponyville party!” Maybe she wasn’t thinking of one after all.

Along the way I found out Twilight had five best friends, given how she was before she left, that left me surprized and even more so when it turned out I had all of them expect for Fluttershy. That’s when I remembered something Rainbow had said this morning.

“So you told your friends about me?” Twilight raised her eyebrow at me. “Rainbow said you told her about me.” She knew what was coming next and lowered her head with a small sheepish smile.

“Sorry Cobalt, she actually came and asked me about you.” I raised my eyebrow at this. “She wanted to know about the fight that happened yesterday and flew by shortly after you left and from there I just kind of told her.” I just signed.

“Well thanks Twilight, honestly it’s probably better that you did do that because at least now she is willing to help me.” That earned me another smile. ‘Well she’s cute when she’s happy.’

“Wow it looks like Pinkie went all out.” Finally breaking out of my train of thought I looked at what Twilight was now gaping at, only to see party of hundreds of ponies…

Without a second I bolted into the crowd of ponies searching for a certain pink haired mare. ‘I wanna know just went wrong.’ It didn’t take her long to find me since she popped out of nowhere.

“HI!” She called out in front of me barely giving me an enough time to skid to a halt before I smacked into her. “Wowie that looked fun maybe I should try!”

Before she had time to I yelled “Focus Pinkie!” Luckily with that she looked at me and gave me enough time to talk. “What happened I told you not to invite half of ponyville!”

She tilted head slightly to left. “What are you talking about silly? I invited all of ponyville!” She jumped with joy at the last part causing me to walk to the nearest tree and start banging my head while muttering “Buck my life.” Over and over again.

I felt a pat on my shoulder only to see Silver trying to hold back his laughter as he said a line I had heard all too often when it came to clouds. “Mistakes were made.” I groaned out loud while Silver and another pony fell to floor laughing their flanks off at me. Looking down at the tree I saw two aqua coloured orbs… ‘No wait… eyes?’ They blinked confirming my suspicion and they staring right at me.

“Oh… ummm… okay I’ll stay here if you don’t mind…” I just nodded and left the tree behind, putting the mental note of my first meeting with Fluttershy into my head.

The night had been incredibly eventful, from Pinkie introducing me to everypony in town, too small chats with Rarity and Applejack. On the note of those, Rarity and I discussed fashion and was surprized by how much I knew and told her it pays to have to a sister who admires fancy dress which lead to Rarity asking if she could ever meet her. Applejack on the other hoof still seemed a bit sore about the job offer turned down but I told her that it wouldn’t be right to do something other than what I had, which she seemed to accept. Other that the two of us discussed the best way for me to provide for myself and that I should pick up some of their apples later which I agreed too.

Aside from those conversations and avoiding cutie marks, something I was brought up doing being told that only close friends and family should share cutie marks, the night ended rather peacefully although still leaving me mentally exhausted. Looking around Pinkie had already finished cleaning up and had left and I guess I should do the same, until a cyan mare came into view staring at me.

Doing the only thing I could of at the time, I did something my mother taught me.

“What’s up Rainbow Dash? Should I walk you home? She didn’t respond and let her stare intensify making me flinch back a bit until she looked down and sighed.

“You’re really weird Cobalt.” She stated rather bluntly. “And don’t get ahead of yourself I am the one and only Rainbow Dash I can handle myself just fine!” She did a backflip to empathize her point and then she pointed to *GULP* the cloud castle. “Besides I live right there!” She then spread her wings and took into and the air hovering just above me. “Remember you got tomorrow so get some rest okay rookie?” And with that she flew off without me even saying a word as I ran a checklist through my brain.

‘My boss is my neighbor, she lives in a cloud castle, best friends with my new friend Twilight, and has already lowered my job scoring while calling me and idiot and weird.’

Author’s notes: Sorry about this chapter taking so long, I had a lot of stress and problems around home and it was just making it impossible to write. But luckily I am done with it that now and back to working on it.

So this chapter seems a bit plain but was to show the mares of interest in Cobalt’s new life, the next chapter however will focus on more action for those who like that.

Credit goes to my proof-reader: Silver Spirit, Warlok
Thank you

Life, Family, Friends

by Shadow Aqua

Chapter 3: Not all men are annoying, some are dead