//------------------------------// // v: nice to meet you, marigold // Story: dasher // by The Red Parade //------------------------------// “... And that’s where Pinkie works, should you ever need to see her. But I’ve found that if you want to talk to her, she has a tendency to find you first. It’s uncanny, if I’m being honest.” The unicorn chuckled, taking in the information as Bon Bon led her down the streets of Ponyville, pointing out residents and buildings.  “Where are you from?” asked Bon Bon. Probably some rich place, she seems like the kind that came from money. “Canterlot,” came the reply. “But as rich as that place is…” she sighed, shaking her head. “Never mind that.” Bon Bon raised an eyebrow at that. Wasn’t expecting that. “Well, anyways, Ponyville’s a pretty welcoming place. Ponies are nice, and the food’s not bad either.” The unicorn chuckled, her breath misting in the cold air. “That’s good. Can’t tell you how many towns I’ve been to with garbage eating options.” “I know,” Bon Bon replied. “I don’t know what’s wrong with ponies in lower Manehattan… My stomach wasn’t right for months on end after that.” “Oh yeah, I feel that.” The unicorn tugged at her scarf, eyes darting between the buildings. “You sound like you get around a lot though.” If you only knew the half of it. “Yeah. My old job had me moving around Equestria a lot.” The unicorn smiled at her. “Oh yeah? What job was that?” Bon Bon grimaced. “I… don’t want to talk about it.” Before she could continue the thought, Bon Bon suddenly felt something wrap tightly around her body. It took her a few seconds to realize the unicorn was hugging her. “Aw, that sucks!” the unicorn said. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to!” The unicorn quickly released her and bounded down the street. “Hey, have you ever tried to catch a snowflake on your tongue?” Bon Bon blinked in confusion, trying to process what had just happened. How does a unicorn who grows up in Canterlot act like a young foal? “Uh… no?” “Really?” asked the unicorn, spinning around in a circle. “You’ve never made snowponies? Snow angels in the street? Come on, did you even have a foalhood?” Bon Bon frowned, shaking her head. “Well, it’s never too late,” the unicorn replied, adjusting her hat again. “Seriously, though. I can’t believe you’ve never spent time playing in the snow.”  “I just… didn’t like playing with the other foals. Wasn’t very social.” The unicorn nodded. “I understand. But you have to have fun sometime! Life’s more than just one business meeting, you know!” Bon Bon opened her mouth to reply but couldn’t string together a reply. I… I wonder if she’s right? Have I really spent my whole life working instead of living? Wait, did she take the conversational lead from me? How’d that happen?  “But this place is amazing! It’s so cool how it feels so big while seeming so small and cozy!” the unicorn declared.  Bon Bon looked around them at the houses and storefronts, still musing on the thought. “I guess you’re right. I never thought much of it. It’s compact enough for easy ex-fill and it has enough ponies living in it to establish cover, use as a distraction, and gather sources…”  She shook her head, snapping out of her rant. “Uh… sorry, I’m rambling.” She glanced around, hoping that nopony had caught her little tirade. Unfortunately, the unicorn was looking directly at her, head tilted at a curious angle. Bon Bon held her breath, ready for the unicorn to take a few steps back or run away, creeped-out and bothered by what she said. The unicorn slowly raised a hoof, then reached out and tapped Bon Bon on the nose before bursting into a fit of giggles. “Wow! You really prepare for the worst, huh?” “It’s… It’s who I am,” Bon Bon stammered, unsure of how to respond. The unicorn nodded and smiled wider. “And that’s great! Equestria needs more ponies like you!” She paused to consider a building on their right. “So what’s up with that? Looks kinda like a carousel or something.” Bon Bon worked her jaw, struggling to form a coherent sentence. Had this unicorn really just brushed off her outburst so easily? “That’s, uh… Carousel Boutique. A mare named Rarity runs it.” “Cool. You sure know a lot about this town,” the unicorn replied. “I profiled it before I arrived,” Bon Bon automatically answered. The unicorn laughed again. “Of course you did. Brilliant!” She trotted off down the street, humming a happy song to herself. Bon Bon squeezed her eyes shut to get her legs working again. As the unicorn pranced down the roads, the gears started to spin in her mind.  Bon Bon didn’t consider Ponyville to be her home. Would that be different if she could find a friend? Someone who didn’t think she was odd or strange, or that her demeanor was off-putting and harsh? She wasn’t sure. But a part of her hoped so. Bon Bon bit her lip and upped her pace to keep up with the unicorn ahead of her.