What is the proper educate when approaching a farm? There was no doorbell at the gate, and I severely doubted that anypony would hear me if I knocked on the fence. Do I just walk up to the barn, or the farmhouse and knock there? Am I supposed to call out for somepony to answer? What were business hours? Didn't I see an apple cart in town at some point? Do only guests of the family actually show up to the farm, and the things they make are sold at third party venues that are better at distribution because they have more locations, and it is easier to sell to one company and let them do the distribution work while you just sit back and continue making the base product speeding up the process to-
At that point my thoughts were cut off by three fillies that had walked up behind me, apparently on their way to the farm. The red and yellow one talked first. “Um... mister? Is there something ya need at the farm?”
The pegasus chimed in next. “You here to hit on Applejack?”
The first pony turned on her friend at that. “What my sister does with colts ain’t none of your business!”
“Sheesh. I was just kidding.”
I decided to answer the first question and ignore the second. “I've actually never been to a farm, so I didn't know the etiquette for approaching one.”
They looked at me oddly for a second.
I rephrased myself. “I didn't know if I should just walk in, or if that was a bad thing to do.”
They seemed to understand that better. The yellow one spoke up again. “Well if no pony's expecting you it'll be fine during the day time as long as you don't interrupt Granny's nap. Is there somethin' in particular you need?”
“Yes actually. I was stopping by to see if there was any zap apple jam I could purchase.”
“Sure, follow me, I'll check.” The little filly led her friends and I into the farm.
The trees themselves were gorgeous. The apples all looked perfect! Though the size varied slightly, the shape was perfect on each one, as was the color. If I'd been any good at painting I would have to paint some. We had reached halfway to the barn when Applebloom called out.
“HEY APPLEJACK!” She shouted much to my surprise, “SOMEPONY WANTS TO BUY SOME JAM!”
A voice that I assumed was Applejack's responded from a distance. “STOP SHOUTIN'! I'M COMIN'!”
The yellow filly turned to me once again. “Wait here, she'll be with you shortly.” With that she and her friends strode off to play, or whatever it was they were going to do. I didn't really care, I just needed more of that jam.
After a moment an orange mare strode up to me. I assumed it was Applejack.
“Hi, I'm Applejack.” I was right. “I heard somethin' about you wantin' some Jam?”
I contained my excitement as much as I could. “Yes, indeed. I would like to purchase any zap apple jam that I can. I was given some last night, and I simply must have more.”
She nodded. “Yep. It's mighty good stuff. We have about 10 jars left, you want all of 'em?”
I smiled and nodded. “Of course! How much would that be?”
We bartered for a short time and settled on an amount. An amount just barely less than what I could afford. It didn't matter though, I was giddy. I had just purchased 10 jars of the most delicious thing ever and it was all mine!
“It's a deal then pardner.” We shook on it, and she led me to the jars.
My smile grew as they came into site, and I gave her the amount we had agreed upon. “How long is the shelf life on the jam?”
She grabbed the first jar off the shelf and helped me put it into one of my saddle bags. “It should keep for at least three months in the open, and up to 10 if you keep it cool.”
I levitated the next few jars into the other saddle bag. “How long until you get more of it?”
She continued helping with the jars. “Well, the season just ended, so about another 11 months or so.”
I stopped moving jars and looked at her. The shock was evident in my voice. “WHAT?!? I'm going to have to wait almost an entire year until I can get more? But this is the most delicious thing I've ever tasted, and I've been to several equestrian dessert competitions, as well as large cook offs, but nothing even compares to this! ELEVEN MO-”
The hoof in my mouth stopped me from continuing. “Whoa there, calm down. It's not that big a deal.” She removed her hoof and smiled at me. “Think about it this way, it can be a nice yearly treat. Sure it's good, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Right?”
Her words helped me calm down a bit. “I guess you're right. But it's just so good!”
She laughed and spoke as we loaded up the last of the jars. “So's apple spice cake, but I didn't have any for dinner last night.”
I laughed. “Point taken. Thank you for the jam.” We started on our way out. I then remembered what Pinkie asked. “Oh! Pinkie Pie says hi.”
“Oh? Tell her that Friday's fine if she can't find another place for it.” With that she went off to the fields to work some more, and I walked toward the gate. Unless Pinkie had something else planned for Friday I assumed she meant my welcome party. I guess that my knowing didn't really effect anything, so it was fine. Actually... now that I thought about it that was vague enough not to really tell me anything.
It was nearing one pm when I arrived back in town. I would have gotten there faster, but 10 full jars slow a pony down a bit. Before returning to Rarity's house I must complete the task given me. I must relay the message to Pinkie.
I was planning on stopping by her shop again to tell her there, but while I was still two blocks away a pink figure started walking next to me.
“So didja get some jam?” Pinkie asked.
I took a step away and turned my head so I could see her better. She could be a bit startling. “Um... yes. 10 jars. Can you believe they won't have more for almost another year?”
“I know, right? I mean that's like waiting a whole month to get more spicy cupcakes. Who has the time?”
Spicy cupcakes? I decided to ignore it. “Oh. Applejack told me to tell you that Friday's fine if you can't find another place for it.”
“That's great!” She seemed to hover in the air as she said it. The tabloids were right, physics didn't apply to her. “It's going to be so much fun!” She landed and calmed down simultaneously. “So... what're you going to do for the rest of the day?”
“Well, I was planning on writing some letters, and practicing my magic for a while. I might get out some coloring books later though.”
She tilted her head to the side.“Coloring books?”
I nodded. “Coloring books.”
She closed one eye and looked at me closely. “The kind of coloring books where you use crayons and have tons of fun?”
I smiled. “Is there any other kind?”
Her face grew serious. The most adorable kind of serious. The kind that only ever meant good things. “Tell me when and I will meet you there with all 524 colors of crayons. 3 of each crayon. There will be no empty pages by the end of the night.”
I had to giggle a bit at that. “I'll just bring them by the bakery when I'm ready to start.” She made me smile. “Don't wait up though, they are the last thing on the list. Work some more on that super surprise party cannon design. I'll try to show up around six.” I smiled at her as I said it.
“Okie, dokie, lokie!” her face had returned to her standard smile. She started bouncing away and said one last thing to me over her shoulder in a sing song voice. “You better remember!”
I shook my head laughing and continued on my way. She was the best kind of nut. I walked almost all of the way back to the boutique without further incident. I was only about 30 paces away when a certain unicorn who lived in a library approached me from where she had been waiting under a tree.
“Well hello Twilight. Did lunch last until now?” I smiled knowing that it most certainly hadn't.
She half smiled back. “Oh, no. I was actually waiting to see you.”
I feigned half shock and responded. “Oh, how forward of you.”
She got a little bit mad and her cheeks flushed slightly. “You know that's not what I meant.”
I smiled. It was fun making her blush. “No, but I can't get out of this situation as easily as our last encounter, so I decided to make it fun.” We stood there in silence for a few moments. “What did you want to see me about?”
She shook her head and applied a hoof softly to her face. “I just wanted to know about the colt that's staying with my friend. There's something... off about you.”
My smirk returned. “Oh, you say that to all the boys.”
Her scoff returned. “No. I mean... You're a colt getting along with Rarity, but not fawning after her.”
My smirk remained. “I'm a colt that knows where not to mettle. One of those places is in the heart of the famous.”
Twilight frowned a bit harder. “You don't seem to be after a mare whom you're even sharing a house with, but you don't seem to have any mare of your own.”
“Does that mean you're volunteering?”
That one took her by surprise. “What?! No!” She calmed down a bit before continuing. If I'd payed closer attention I'd have seen the faint glow that began surrounding her horn. “I just want to make sure my friend is safe with a colt that uses a fake accent.”
That one surprised me. I changed my voice to sound more normal, and quieted myself to a whisper. “Was it that obvious?”
She nodded.
I sighed. “They don't take anypony in the fashion world seriously if they don't have a nice accent.”
She smiled and arched one eyebrow. “No snappy comeback?”
I returned the expression. “Oh, you'll come back.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Besides, I might only be staying for one more night, and at the latest I'll be leaving her home on Saturday morning.”
She let out a big breath. “Well that's a relief, ponies were starting to talk.” At this point the glow on her horn had become more noticeable. Her eyes narrowed. “There's some sort of weak magical field surrounding your body.”
My mocking smirk returned. “Oh? So you've been probing me?”
Crud. I was found out if I didn't think fast. My expression remained the same smirk even if my mind was racing like the Wonderbolts doing cardio. “It's a very useful spell. It repels dirt and dust from sticking to my coat.” I didn't love lying, but I hoped that one was good enough to work for now. Either way staying near her for much longer would be a bad thing. “Will you be much longer? I still have to practice some spells, and see if Rarity needs help with anything before I meet with Pinkie Pie for some coloring.”
“Coloring?”
I nodded. “With crayons.”
She shrugged. “Sounds like Pinkie Pie. Well, have fun, but I'm keeping my eye on you Dolce.”
She was about to turn away when I made a decision. I liked this town. I REALLY liked this town. It had the famous Elements of Harmony in it, and everypony else had been nothing but kind. If I was actually going to live here, how long could I keep up the lie? What if sewing failed me? I would come clean. I had to come clean. To everypony.
I swallowed hard. “Don't worry. You'll learn everything you need to know about me at Pinkie's welcome party on Friday.”
“I'll see you then.” With that Twilight walked off toward her home. Presumably to read until the wee hours of the night if the tabloids were correct.
My head was filled with troubling thoughts of possible repercussions and potential plans for how to reveal myself as I walked into the boutique. I shook it all off for the moment as I walked through the doors. I had things to do before my date with some crayons.
“Rarity!” I called out in a sing song voice. What? Just because I'm stressing doesn't mean I can't still be sarcastic? Whatever. She wasn't in the main room as I entered.
“Yes, Dolce?” She called from another room.
“Are there any chores of any kind that you might want me to do?”
She appeared in the doorway. “Well, if you could clean the room you're using, and maybe sweep up a bit that would be fine darling, but you really don't have to fuss.”
I smiled. “It's as good as done, also I'll no longer be staying at your house as of tomorrow.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Tomorrow?”
I matched her eyebrow raise and rose it a smile. “Indeed.”
“I thought you said you'd be here until the weekend.” She questioned.
I lowered my eyebrow. “I would have been, but I now have just barely more than enough money for a train ride home. Jam wasn't in the original plan.” I removed a jar from my pack.
She lowered her eyebrow. “Ah. Apple family jam. That would explain it. Well if you need me darling, I'll be inventing. Ciao!” With that she was off again to her studio.
As I had thought the cleaning really didn't take long. Rarity kept her home very clean as it was also her place of business, and a dirty shop could lose customers. Cleaning the room I had stayed in took all of 5 minutes. I made sure the bed looked pretty, and I used a dust removal spell as well as a wind charm to clean the floor and remove all the dust that was present in the room. I deposited the detritus in the wastebasket in the corner.
I wanted to try something in the next room, and it worked rather well. I took a broken quill from my pack and used a spell on it that should attract dirt, and dust. All I had to do was pass the quill over the floor and behind things and all of the dirt and dust within 6 inches was sucked onto it. The only issue was that when it got too full it was rather difficult to get anything off of it without removing the enchantment. Regardless it took me a little over a half an hour to clean the entire main floor, and nearly every room that wasn't being used for creation. With my chore done I returned to my domi pro tempore to write my letters.
The first letter was a simple letter to my parents explaining that I would be visiting them tomorrow. I also requested that the send me all of my coloring books. The second was a more personal letter that took a bit longer to write. In fact it took about 20 sheets of parchment before I was done. I wasn't going to send them all of course. 18 of the sheets were failed drafts that I would later have to burn. I rolled the failed drafts up and hid them as best I could in my pack.
The third letter was written in a very fun code. To anypony other than myself and the pony receiving the letter it would simply look like a very very strange musical piece. It took nearly an hour to write it out in its entirety due to the complexity of the code, but it was well worth it. It translated out to 'When the sky is gray, look out to sea. I'll be on the horizon, smiling. Also tell your mom I said hi. I haven't seen you in forever! ~Salieri'
The final letter wasn't so much a letter as a formal document that I would hoof deliver to the town hall so that I could purchase a home and become a legal resident of Ponyville. I had filled out the official form twice before, and had memorized it. Partly because I had gotten so bored one day when I was out of reading material that I challenged myself to memorize a legal document. I added one addendum to it stating that if anything else was required I would provide it. I then signed my actual name, and got ready to deliver each letter.
I used my own magic to send the first letter, as it was simple enough to send a letter home when I needed to, but I couldn't do the other two on my own. I made my way to the post office. Both letters were sealed, and marked for delivery. After getting them sent off on their way I went to the mayor's office.
The town wasn't big enough to have a major government building, so the mayor's office handled most legal forms. I walked in and was greeted kindly by a gray mare.
“Hello. Is there anything you need help with today?” Her smiled was warm.
“Just this.” I levitated the document to her.
She smiled as she read the document... right until she got to the end that is. She looked at the signature, then to me, then to the signature, then I dropped my disguise as she looked back to me, then she jumped a little and gasped. I loved that gag.
She looked on in awe. “You're... are you really?...”
I smiled and nodded. “Yes. I really am. Though until the party is over on Friday just call me Dolce.” I replaced my disguise. “I believe I'll be living in the old house on the east edge of town. Do I just pay the current lease owners then?”
The mayor closed her mouth and shook her head to return to reality. “Yes, that should be fine. If you choose to stay you will become a legal resident on the first of next month.” She was still slightly dumbstruck, but that was to be expected.
The smile in my eyes grew. “Splendid! It was a pleasure doing business with you.” We shook hooves and I turned to leave.
“Tell Racer I said hello next time you see him.” As I walked out the door I couldn't help but remember the last time I saw
Racer's aunt. I knew she was a mayor, but I never knew it was here. Small world I guess.
It was 4pm when I returned to my room in the boutique to practice some magic. First I did some spells to make me appear smaller or larger in front of the mirror. The ones that made me look larger were much easier, and looked much better, but I was having trouble matching where the head was looking to where I was looking. I seemed to have gotten it perfect after a few minutes. Making myself smaller was a much more exhausting spell. It was part illusion, part puppet (making the head look where I wanted it to again), and part invisibility. Changing colors was one thing, but making something completely clear? Much harder. I returned to my normal disguise, and rested for a few minutes before attempting my next spell.
This spell was very easy to maintain once it was started, but well... starting wasn't so easy. I sat on the bed sitting and resting on my front hooves to prepare. I got out the needed materials and placed them on the bed in front of me. When I felt ready I started. The tips materialized. The feathers formed slowly and connected to the still forming skin and muscle. I felt a pulse just below my horn, but kept my focus. The muscles knitted well, and the tendons and ligaments began forming. The bones were made, and the muscle attached itself properly. The skin covered it perfectly. The feathers coated the skin properly. In truth the bone wasn't bone, but had a chemical composition similar to wood. It was about as strong as if it were made of glass. The skin was as thick as normal skin, but it was essentially paper. The muscle itself was made of a material similar to the skin. The feathers were actually just my own fur, but they looked and felt like real horse feathers.
About a half second before the wings could fully form I passed out. The spell was still too much for me to do alone, and since the only copy of the spell was destroyed I was out of luck. When I awoke the clock said 5:40, and my horn was glowing. A moment later my coloring books appeared on the bed in front of me, and I shook the sleep out of my head. I remembered why I needed them, and I had 20 minutes to get there.
As I looked at the books on the bed in front of my nose I became very very happy. They had sent more than I expected, and that was a good thing. I gathered all of the books into a neat pile, and placed them on my back. As I walked out Rarity was leaving her studio to head for the kitchen. “I'm heading over to Pinkie's for some coloring. I'll be back around 8!”
She looked at me quizzically. “Coloring?”
I let out a chuckle. “With crayons. Have a good evening.” I continued three steps closer to the door.
“You don't want some dinner first?”
I shook my head. “I'll just get something at the bakery. I'll see you tomorrow night if you want to stop by my new house!”
“You're moving in already?”
I laughed. “Yes, now go make yourself something to eat, and I'm going to go color!” With that I turned and trotted out the door. It was 5:50 when I entered the bakery, and asked the colt behind the counter about Pinkie's whereabouts. I was going to buy a crepe from him, but he told me Pinkie had made food for us already. He pointed me up the stairs to the door on the left.
As I opened the door I was blasted in the face with confetti. “Gah! Pinkie! That was surprising!”
“I know, right? It's all like POOF! And you totally didn't expect it at all! Want some cupcakes? Cheesecakes? Double-takes?”
“What was that last one?”
“Cheesecakes?”
I shook my head and smiled. “I get it!” Oh, Pinkie. “I'll have a cupcake and some cheesecake.”
She gave me a plate with three cupcakes and three slices of different kinds of cheesecake organized to look like ice cream cones.
She smiled with her eyes closed. “I'll take your order, and raise you two!”
I don't know how she'd stolen a joke from my inner monologue from earlier in the day, but I didn't question it. I took the plate graciously, and began eating.
As soon as we were done eating I asked Pinkie about the crayons, and BOY did she deliver. Pinkie wasn't lying about the crayons. It was more than I'd ever seen. She had three of every color that I'd heard of, and some that I hadn't. Puce and periwinkle. Plum, peach, and plain purple. Salmon, chartreuse, and several scores more. If ever there was a time for coloring, it was now.
I stared at them all. “By my love of Luna this is going to be the best possible use of wax in all of the existence of pony kind.” I set all seventeen 200-page coloring books on the ground, and one sketch pad. Her expression as well as mine, without losing our smiles, grew serious.
Simultaneously we stated, “Coloring time!”
We made purple giraffes, and green primates, and so many other things that I couldn't comprehend the countless creatures and copious creations we had colored. 2 hours later, smelling strongly of wax, we stopped. I had to follow my schedule, and she had to work on something relating to gunpowder and parties. She wished me a super duper awesome fun night, and I wished her the same.
On my way back to Rarities I took a detour by the train station, and purchased my ticket for the next day. It was 8:30 by the time I wrote a letter apologizing to Luna for not staying up with her that night (I know it's silly, and I never sent any of them, but it was still a fun practice to follow) and got into bed. Early for most, but I had a promise to keep, and I was ready to help take care of some animals.