He had looped around Ponyville, taking the long winding road that came in from Canterlot if his memory was correct. There really wasn't much to say about the small town, except for it wasn't nearly as small as everyone believed.
Sure, the town had a few very obvious points of interest, Sugar Cube Corner, The Library, and Applejacks farm, but there were also sprinklings of places that he could use as new bases of operations. If only he had money.
There were also places that simply weren't as flashy. An alcohol distillery and shop was hidden at the edge of a residential area full of houses and gardens, probably providing some relief to hardworking Ponyville locals and methods of expanding the culinary repertoire for those who cared in alcohol for cooking. It was a shame, he had thought, that were no drinking games in that place or in any other region he'd went. The only other location was known for its salt-licks, and while salt was something else to add to the rising list of nutritional deficiencies, drinking nothing but salt was not his idea of a good drink.
Ponyville had an extreme lack of games or gambling that he had become very used to in his life. Drinking games, cup games, all that payed well when he was bored. He wasn't much for illicit gambling, but on rare events he could be found at a poker table. If he wanted to game for his money, then really his only chance was at the market area that he was avoiding for obvious and particular reasons.
All of that thinking was really just a distraction from the real reason he came here anyway. To reintroduce himself.
He'd stained his muzzle purple, then washed as much of it out as he could to see how much had actually sunk into his fur. The result was that those berries were very, very staining. Despite the sweetness in the mix he'd made, there was no sugary residue left behind on his fur, in fact his fur felt softer and looked healthier. Whether or not this was because of the fruit or a thorough wash, he didn't know.
He had refrained from maximizing his use of purple. Aiden wasn't much of an artist, in fact, he was already loathing the use of purple already. It was his only color, and green from grass stains would absolutely not match, lest he incur the wrath of an insufferable white pony. The purple had kept to highlighting his hands, his snout and mouth, the tips of his ears and tail, and in lines that looked like they had a purpose, reminiscent of printed circuit boards.
Aiden had also had some last-minute changes to his wardrobe. The rough, purple-dyed cowl was repurposed into a mask, not too unlike a bandana or a neck gaiter. The extra fabric that remained was allowed to cling to his chest and drape downwards like robes that were vaguely reminiscent of a shemagh. He had considered taking his coat and simply flipping his coat inside out, so it would look orange, but that would probably burn his gambit into the ground. No, he'd save it for something else.
Then again, while some of these ponies were bright, a few were less than attentive.
He was now halfway to Sugarcube Corner. His routes were careful, exact, and looked just like a regular old walk. His path avoided the hot-headed rainbow pony and a majority of the town locals, at least up until this final stretch where almost any pony could get a good look at him. The most he ever did was glance their way with closed eyes and kept walking. It seemed to work, after all.
He'd never admit that it might look cute, only that it was an effective tactic at being disarmingly non-threatening.
Sugarcube Corner's candy-coated rooftops were in the distance now, and his stomach was growling. Forty paces. Thirty. Twenty-five, fifteen, the distance was closing by the minute until he met the glass door, and briefly saw his reflection before opening the door, a bell ringing behind him. A little loud, but he figured it was just him getting used to having good hearing again.
His footsteps were silent as he walked up to the counter, completely ignoring the shocked looks of a group of ponies in a booth, orange, rainbow, and purple respectively. They weren't bothering him, they didn't recognize him, and he certainly didn't know them. All he needed was to introduce himself, grab a cupcake, find some quick work and a train ticket out, in no particular order. Starting a brawl was absolutely not in his plans.
A minute passed and he rang a silver bell on the counter, and thought more carefully about the cupcakes. He'd honestly prefer something to drink inst- "HEYA! How ya doing! You must be new! What can I get you? You looking at the cupcakes? They're super yummy and freshly made, I recommend chocolate and strawberry."
Aiden tensed up a little bit in surprise at the bubbly voice but refrained from freaking out, he was quickly and calmly composed, food first and antics later. "...Just the strawberry cupcake. Actually. Two, and something to drink." He asked politely. Pinkie Pie just smiled and reached out somewhere and came back with two pristine cupcakes. Strawberry slices and light pink frosting, it reminded him of strawberry shortcakes. "Oki-doki! Here we are, and something to drink? Well we've got coffee, toffee coffee, Irish coffee, sodas, snow-cones but only sometimes- milkshakes, juice, smoothies, a-"
"Just the milkshake. Strawberry." He said, firmly but still politely. Food first. Antics. Later. If it weren't for his previous experiences with Jordi he might just be saying he was running out of patience with her ramblings, but at least it was easy to get a word in. Strange, but he wasn't complaining.
Pinkie Pie had bounced off somewhere to find scoops for ice cream, and Aiden chose that moment to discretely look around the bakery, take in a few details. It was mostly empty, plenty of booths were available so he could eat in relative privacy, except for one being occupied by three mares. He relaxed his shoulders as he waited for his milkshake, his ears swiveling as he could hear bouncing, blending, and not-so-hushed whispers. He tuned in on the talk with his eyes closed as he waited, having forgotten to even take the cupcakes over to his booth, or even pay for that matter.
"...So, we're not gonna talk about the walking fox that looks a lot like the one that robbed Twilight or...?"
"No Rainbow, we were just gonna keep chattin' about the weather. Of course we're gonna mention him! Twilight that there is another fox, darn near identical to the one that-"
"That you aggravated. Girls, I appreciate that we're all on the same page of our mystery fox, but I really didn't expect you to be the one to throw the first punch. I expected that from Rainbow Dash, not... Well, not really you."
"Yeah! Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"
"No offense Rainbow, but yer alot more aggressive than anypony else in our group. Ya could rival a griffon with yer attitude. But Twilight, how come we aren't just stopping the fox right here and now? What other foxes do we know?"
"...Believe me, I'd love to just catch them and start asking questions, but he doesn't look at all like the fox I remember breaking into my library, and the one you saw was definitely not a fan of the color purple."
"Ah guess that's true..." was the last thing Aiden heard from Applejack before Pinkie Pie had sprung over to his table with his plate of forgotten cupcakes and a deliciously cold milkshake, set down in a split second right as his eyes opened.
"Here you go, mister! Two cupcakes and a shake, on the house! So... You're kinda new! How's it been? Have I seen you before? Purples not your color, you could try orange! Ooh, maybe dark purple? You seem like you like dark colors. You have kinda broody eyes, like Maud Pie sometimes, do-"
Aiden Pearce politely cut Pinkie Pie off as quickly as he could, clearing his throat for the moment. "That's a very big thank you from me miss, uh. Your name?"
"Pinkamena Diane Pie! Pinkie Pie! Over there we have Twily, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash sitting. Oh! Ooh! You could sit with them? You seem like you could talk to someone, here, let me move you over there!" She shot off excitedly.
Aiden cocked an eyebrow and scooted an inch away. "Now wait a second, Pinkamena I don't think that's- Woah!" He was lifted off his seat in one hoof, his food was in her other hoof, and she just placed him back down in a split second with the group he was supposed to be avoiding.
This was the day he was getting arrested.
"Okie dokie, have fun, bye!!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing off before he could get a word in. So then, that was that. He'd been stranded next to two ponies who would no doubt have the highest chance of recognizing him, and sending him off to jail, or he'd manage to smooth-talk his way into finding proper work. His only issue with this event was that the plan was moving without him, but one way or another he'd be out of here, and he had nothing to lose.
"So... Does she do this often?" He said, sighing a little bit before taking a bite of the cupcake. Too sweet, even with the tartness from the strawberry slices. There was a chance it only tasted too sweet due to his inconsistent supply of food, and he hoped it would turn bearable after a sip of the milkshake. At least he would be lucky enough to escape the headaches sugar gave him when he was older.
Regrettably, he had the same problem with the milkshake.
"Uh, Nah. Pinks doesn't really get- well, okay she does but she doesn't usually get all touchy like that. Usually, it's just a surprise party that we all get crammed into." Rainbow started casually. She looked bored and squirmed a little in her seat. "So what's with the get-up? You look like a broke wizard, I mean come on, no big pointy hat? I thought that was standard wizard stuff! Back me up on this girls."
"I... I think that's a bit rude, Rainbow." Twilight said quietly, briefly glancing over at Aiden. He took another bite of the cupcake without much fuss, as it had begun to taste slightly less sweet, more palatable, more flavorful. To his right sat Twilight Sparkle, and right in front of him was the local speed demon and weather pony, Rainbow Dash, and next to her was Applejack. "But... You do look almost like a druid." Twilight continued.
"I woulda said bandit." Applejack cut in, giving a few indiscrete glances his way. For a brief moment he'd made eye contact with her, and he could've sworn he saw a familiar fire in those eyes, but it was gone just as quick. "...But you don't even look fit enough to throw a punch." Applejack finished in a softer tone.
He'd glanced at himself a little more closely, and the others did too. Beneath the freshly fluffed fur were the outlines of his ribs, and while he was fortunately not entirely emaciated and rawboned, it didn't mean that his haggard and matchstick form was healthy. He took another sip of his milkshake as he played with the fabric, trying to get it to drape down just a little bit more. Weakness was something he couldn't show. It simply wasn't something he did.
Aiden cleared his throat with a short cough. It would seem that he'd be the one carrying the conversation for the moment. "If that's all, then I'm sorry to have interrupted your conversation. I'll just be going if you'll let me move miss...?"
Twilight perked up a bit before speaking, starting to begin a shuffle out of the booth. "Oh, of course! My name is Tw-" "Y'a can call her Twilight Sparkle." Applejack interrupted abruptly. It earned her a stare from everyone else in the booth. From Aiden, all it got was the faintest frown. Twilight on the other hand seemed confused, and just a bit annoyed. "Ah'll explain later. Twi. And you can call me Apple Jack, and to my left here, you can call her Rainbow Dash." The southern pony said, gesturing to them all in order as she mentioned them.
"So, what has ya visiting?" Applejack asked, taking reign of the conversation as she seemed to lean forward slightly, taking a sip of previously unseen juice. Twilight however, decided to stay quiet on an unvoiced request by Applejack, and Rainbow Dash...
Well, Rainbow Dash just kept stuffing cookies in her face. High speed flight required lots of energy, as it would seem.
"I'm looking for something. That's all." With a single sentence, he had set the bait. Now all he waited was for somepony to take it.
"Like what?" Asked Twilight Sparkle. She was quicker on the draw than Apple Jack this time, who seemed to be quietly seething at her suddenly retaking her conversation. "This wouldn't happen to involve anything... Magical? Would it?"
She was nervous, that much was certain. Pausing, he finished off one cupcake, and took another sip of the milkshake. The flavors seemed more balanced this time around. "Don't know." Aiden deflected. "I thought there would be something for me here, but there isn't. Thing's are more different than I had expected."
"Yeah, ah'll bet. So, how long are ya staying here? You got more company?" Interrupted Applejack. In response, Aiden shifted his neck gaiter around and withdrew a series of bits. His last-minute change had allowed for a makeshift hidden wallet, and having a hidden stash was something he particularly enjoyed. He deposited six bits.
He gestured to the golden currency, and asked. "I don't know these lands, and unless six of these is enough to travel, I'm staying until its time to go."
"Fourteen, yer fourteen bits short. At least if you go one way by train." Applejack mused, staring at the coinage in thought. "I'll loan you them if it means you get out of town quicker."
Twilight raised herself from her spot in the booth. "Applejack?! I understand you don't trust him on account of what happened at the market but-" "That ain't it Twi. Listen, I get your kind are used to making deals. If I deal you in on some work, will you take thirty bits as payment and leave? Whatever you're good at, I just want you gone. It's nothin' personal."
The table went quiet as Aiden Pearce stuffed the last cupcake in his mouth, and promptly finished his milkshake in less time than one would think possible for a starved man with a small stomach. Six bits. Thirty-six if the work is done. Thirty-one if he spent five bits for food and didn't ration out his jam jars. Things would go in his favor here. He'd already decided his choice.
With a simulated look, Aiden pretended to mull it over. "We can meet here again tomorrow. I'll do your jobs, and I'll get thirty bits for everything one I do. In exchange, I use that money to leave. Is that all?"
"That's right." Applejack said quietly. The conversation reached a dip as Twilight sat there, processing everything that had been said while Rainbow Dash had only just now tuned back into the conversation, taking a massive gulp of a tall glass of orange juice.
"If that's all, Twilight, may I please leave? You're in the way."
Twilight snapped to attention and shuffled out of the booth. "R-Right! Of course. Erm. If you don't mind, would you please stop by the library before you go? I believe I can help you with learning about the land" She glanced back to see Applejack glaring at her with a look that could cut straight through steel "after tomorrow of course!" She tacked on hastily.
Aiden Pearce gave a relatively disinterested nod, took his dishes with them, left them at the front counter, deposited a single bit as a tip, and left.