Chapter 21 - PonyVille Diaries - Fourth of Many
----------
The New Kid In Town
----------
"Good morning, class!"
Cheerilee greeted in a sing-song manner, announcing her arrival as she walked inside the room.
"g'Morning Miss Cheerilee!"
Said the fillies and colts inside the room in unison. They were seated in their own respective chairs and rested their front hooves on their desks.
The room has a wide black (green) board on the north-side of the room, where the teacher usually writes about his or her discussions and other things for teaching. The east side of the room has an open doorway for entrance and exit, windows for fresh cool air to enter, and bookshelves for references in study. The west side only has windows and bookshelves and charts. The south side of the room has posters and reminders and pinboards on the wall. The room also consisted of rows and columns of chairs and desks for students.
"Before we'll start out lesson for today," Cheerilee said with her usual bright and hearth-warming smile as she trotted to her desk, "I would like everypony to welcome our new student," she turned and extended a hoof towards the door, "Golden Time."
A sad looking, head-hanging-low, pale yellow coated, black-colored mane and tail, unicorn colt slowly went inside with nervous hooves. After taking a few steps inside, he stopped, and slowly lifted his head to look at his new environment.
He saw the walls, the bookshelves, the desks, the chairs. But what really caught his attention were the ponies. Everypony, well, almost, were looking at him with very warm smiles. The unicorn colt blinked, somehow forgetting his nervousness as a smile formed on his dry lips.
"H-hi...everypony..." Golden Time greeted as he awkwardly lifted a hoof and slowly waved it at them.
"Ah-I'm...Golden Time... But uh...please call me Gold, or Time..."
"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" exclaimed a pink earth filly as she began bouncing on her chair, smiling pretty darn wide with eyes sparkling like stars as she stared at the new student.
"Now Pinkie---eh?"
Cheerilee failed to continue what she was about to say when the pink earth filly leaped out of her chair and quickly dashed towards the new colt.
She grabbed his hooves and began dancing in circles as she hopped and jumped and exclaimed how happy she was to meet a new pony. Golden Time was getting dizzy.
"---and then I'll give you a party to welcome you in Ponyville and everypony will be there so you can meet them all and you could make even more friends and everypony will also have a new friend and that is you and then we'll have games and cake and muffins and pie and fun of course! Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of FUN!"
She stopped spinning around and let his hooves go as she excitedly threw her hooves in the air.
Golden Time kept on spinning on the spot with swirling eyes. Soon, his spin slowed and stopped, and he openly welcomed the school's wooden floor's embrace.
Pinkie Pie then quickly looked at the wallclock above the black board, completely ignoring the sighs and weak laughs of her classmates.
"Well, there's still a lot of time before the party starts."
She said to no pony in particular as she easily lifted the colt back on his hooves. She grinned.
"C-could you uh..." Golden Time spoke, wobbling a bit, "...stop going in circles, please?"
Pinkie giggled, "Silly, I'm not circling around! Something's wrong with your eyes!"
She grabbed the colt's cheeks with her hooves.
"Here's let me help!"
She shook his head a bit before letting it go. After a few wobbles, he stood still and shook his head. He let out a breath of relief after everything in his vision is back to normal.
"Uh...thanks?"
She happily extends a hoof towards him.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!"
He shook her hoof, and just as soon as he let her hoof go, she jumped to his side, wrapped a hoof around his nape, and turned him to face the class.
"How'd you like me to introduce you to everypony?"
"Now Pinkie," Cheerilee spoke, "shouldn't the class introduce themselves instead?"
"Great idea!" she shouted as she leaped in the air and dashed back to her chair.
She is seated on the very front and very edge of the class. She then waved a hoof at him and stood up.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! Nice to meet you, Goldy!"
'Goldy...?'
The rest of the fillies and colts introduced themselves. After the last one introduced himself, Golden Time blinked in confusion as he turned to the teacher.
"Um... Miss Cheerilee."
"Yes, Golden Time?"
"Uh, I was just wondering... Why aren't there any pegasi here?"
Cheerilee was about to answer when an orange earth filly spoke first.
"The pegasi have flying classes t'day," said the orange earth filly.
"They're outside of town practicing, ya see."
Golden Time smiled at her and nodded, "thanks, uh, Applejack, right?"
Applejack nodded.
"Now why don't you find a seat and settle down."
Cheerilee said as she began flipping her book on her table.
Golden Time nodded and walked his way towards an empty seat. He settled down on the fourth row of seats, beside a white unicorn filly on his left and a caramel earth colt on his right. Both were staring at him, which made him feel uncomfortable.
"Um... This seat isn't taken yet, right?" he asked innocently, receiving the two ponies' shaking heads.
"So uh...is...something the matter?" he asked quietly as Cheerilee began her lecture.
The earth pony spoke first with a grin, "nah, but watch out for that white unicorn."
The filly turned to him with a glare. "Don't wanna see ya turned all girly and stuff."
"I beg your pardon," the white unicorn with a blue stylish mane and tail hissed, "but I do not and will not turn anypony into something they do not want."
Golden Time turned to her, "Rarity, right?"
He received a nod from the filly. He was about to say something when the colt patted his shoulder.
"Don't talk to her, dude," he said, ignoring the death glare of the white unicorn, "and if I were you, I'd find a seat away from her."
She was not liking that colt at all. Ever since classes resumed when spring came, he has been doing nothing but to make her angry. She turned her head forward with closed eyes with her snout raised.
"Hmp! Colts! One of these days, you'll be crawling on the ground, begging for my hoof."
His grin grew wider.
"See? She's weird like that."
And he returned to his desk and began jotting down some notes on the board.
Golden Time turned to the filly with a small smile.
"Hey um, Rarity?"
The white filly opened her eyes slightly, giving him a side glance.
"Y-yeah uh, I don't think you're weird," her eyes were fully open now, "or...anything he said about you."
She turned to him with a small smile, ignoring the caramel colt's rolling eyes.
"Thank you, Golden Time. That means a lot."
She then returned her attention to the board.
"And here I thought colts were the same."
She whispered to herself and then she shrugged.
"I suppose not all of them. Oh Rarity, treating each colt like they're the same as that idiot brown earth pony is not lady-like at all!"
She whined in whispers, though it was still loud enough to be heard in a small radius of ponies around her.
He flashed an awkward smile, though Rarity didn't see it, and he then turned to the caramel-coated colt. The colt flashed him a knowing smile, and he returned in writing down notes.
'Well,' Golden Time thought as he levitated his newly bought notebook and pencil from his saddlebag and settled them down on his desk, 'everypony has their differences, I guess...'
---
It was recess time, and every filly in class were outside to enjoy the warm clear day as they played and talked to each other. Little ponies were on swings, some were playing tag, others were playing jacks, and other things.
Cheerilee was seated on her chair inside the school building. On the other end of her desk was a yellow earth mare and a blue earth stallion, and both were seated on stools. The three ponies were discussing about a certain unicorn.
"He's a very intelligent unicorn," Cheerilee spoke with her usual calm voice, "he was able to answer questions and was able to explain to class a few things or two."
She turned over her shoulder to look at the blackboard, where a multiplication table was written in white chalk. She then turned back to the two ponies.
"He has this way of finding an easier way to explain things for others to easily understand."
"That's our Golden Time," the yellow mare said with a smile, and she followed it with a chuckle.
"It's good to hear that he's already adjusted here."
The three turned to the windows, where outside, they saw the pale-yellow unicorn colt, playing tag with other ponies. He was currently chasing an orange earth filly with three red apples as her cutie mark, and both were clearly having a great time. Running pass a gray earth colt, Time skidded to a stop, made a sharp turn, and immediately dashed towards the startled colt. He didn't have the time to avoid Time's hoof that touched his shoulder.
"He's been really down, ever since his pegasus friend was abducted a few months ago..."
The yellow mare said quietly as she and the blue stallion turned their attention back at the teacher.
"He was failing his classes. He was no longer paying attention to school, to his friends, and even to himself," she frowned, "it was a very sad thing to see."
"At least we can clearly see that he's happy now."
Said the blue earth stallion with a smile.
The yellow mare nodded in agreement as a small smile formed on her lips.
"Don't worry," Cheerilee said, "I'll be sure to make him feel welcomed and loved."
The two ponies nodded.
"Thanks, Miss Cheerilee," said the blue pony.
Cheerilee waved a hoof at him.
"Cheerilee is fine. You don't have to be formal towards me."
She said with a warm smile.
The blue earth pony shrugged.
"You're a teacher. And teachers should be respected 'cause without them, there won't be professional ponies in the world."
Cheerilee rolled her eyes. She then pulled her drawer and took a few pieces of paper from inside. She placed them on the desk in front of the couple.
"I just need your signatures, and Golden Time will be properly recognized as a transferee here in the school."
The couple took the first two pieces of paper on the top of the files.
Rose and Angle took the pen which Cheerilee was hoofing, and after signing the papers, Cheerilee took the papers back and put them inside a brown folder on the right side of her desk.
"Thank you, Miss Cheerilee."
"Oh, it's no problem, really," Cheerilee smiled at them, "I'll send these papers to the principal after class."
---
"Bye, Miss Cheerilee!"
Said the little fillies and colts in unison as they moved out of the classroom in line.
Cheerilee waved a hoof at the little ponies who were slowly working their way out of the classroom. Outside, Golden Time and Applejack were walking towards one of the picnic tables near a tall tree in the school's yard. On the seats were Pinkie Pie and a gray earth colt, chatting and laughing until they noticed the two of them approaching. Pinkie waved a hoof at them, and the colt turned to see them climbing on the seats.
"So," Pinkie started, "how's your first day of school in Ponyville?"
She smiled, eager to hear the colt's answer.
Time smiled at her.
"It was okay, and it was fun," he admitted with a simple smile, "though," his smile faded, "that was it?"
Applejack and Pinkie Pie, who were seated side by side, blinked at him, twice.
"Uh, what do ye mean?" asked the orange earth filly.
"I mean that, uh, classes are only during the mornings? No afternoon schedule?"
Pinkie Pie and the gray colt laughed while Applejack chuckled slightly. He felt a bit angry at them for laughing at him, though he patiently waited for their laugh to die out before he starts to talk again.
"I'm serious here... Really..." he frowned.
"Sorry 'bout that, sugarcube..."
"'Sugarcube...?"
Time tilted his head in confusion.
Applejack waved a hoof at him to dismiss the thought.
"Anyway, yeah, you pro'bly are enrolled in the morning schedule, so," she shrugged, "you only have the mornings for classes."
"Oh," Time scratched his nape, "I guess that makes sense, but uh..."
He rested both his front hooves on the table, "what are we suppose to do for the afternoon?"
Applejack shrugged.
"Meh, I need tah go back to the farm and do some chores."
Pinkie Pie nodded.
"I need to go back to Sugarcube Corner and help the Cakes! Aaannnddd~"
She smiled wide, "I need to prepare for your party!"
"Do you have to give me a party, Pinkie?" he asked.
"'Cause you don't have to do that."
The fillies shared a chuckle, and Pinkie spoke first, "Don't be silly! You're new, and every pony who's new in town deserves a Pinkie Party~!" she sang.
"Yep," the gray colt nodded in agreement, who was seated beside Golden Time, "even I was given a Pinkie Party when my parents and I moved here from Fillydelphia."
"What's it like, Boulder?" Time whispered.
"Hey!" Pinkie shouted, catching both colt's attention.
"No spoilers!" and she pointed a hoof at Boulder Break.
The gray colt smiled and gestured to zip his mouth with a hoof.
"Aw..." Time pouted.
"Anyway, sugarcube," Applejack got his attention, "what are ya be doin' this afternoon?"
Time blinked.
"Uh... I'm not really sure."
He looked up to the sky as he thought about it.
"Maybe I'll go and see my dad," he turned back to them, "I guess?"
"Where is he?" asked Boulder, "Will he be here to get you?"
Time shook his head with a smile.
"Nah, he's probably busy with teaching the pegasi fillies."
He was about to continue, but he cut himself off after noticing his companion's wide eyes.
"Dude..." Boulder playfully punched the unicorn's shoulder.
"You're dad's Sonic? That's cool, yo!"
Time blinked twice.
"Uh... Is it?"
Pinkie rolled her eyes.
"Well, duh!" she said, as if Time was completely missing the obvious (which he truly was), "Mister Sonic's a very great and very respected pegasi teacher in the whole town! Even Cloudsdale recognizes him!"
"Oh, uh, I didn't know that..."
Time shrugged, "I haven't really spend some time with him when I arrive though... Or even when I was living back in...Manehattan."
"Then what are you sittin' 'round here for?"
Applejack asked with a smirk, "Go on, git! Shoo!"
She playfully waved a hoof to send him away.
"Yeah! Go to him!" Pinkie cheered.
Boulder nodded his agreement.
"You should definitely go and see him, dude."
---
Golden Time had no idea where he was going. When he was inside the train, Ponyville looked really small, but now, he wondered how big the town really was. The first half hour of walking, he convinced himself to look around the edge of town, but then he realized that it was almost noon. Maybe his father went back to town for lunch?
He began asking the ponies he met along the earthy path. If his dad is well-known, then it should be easy to find him if he asks for directions. Unfortunately, the "go straight, and turn right when..." and "when you see the building called... turn right and..." directions he got from other ponies were too difficult to remember if almost all builings in town looked exactly alike.
"Hey little brother," called a young female voice from behind him.
Golden Time turned around and saw an orange pegasus filly approaching him with a warm smile, which was completely contrasting his tired frown.
"H-hi big sis..."
Her smile became weak after she noticed how tired he was.
"Eh...uh..." she turned around until something in her sight made her smile.
She then turned to him, "you hungry?"
---
Despite feeling very hungry, Time managed to eat like a proper pony. Aurora led him to Sugarcube Corner, and they ordered a few unsweetened bread products and ate on the tables outside the establishment.
"Here you go!"
Pinkie Pie happily placed their glass of cool grape juice on their table from an expertly balanced tray on her back.
"Thanks Pinkie," said Aurora as she took a sip from the straw.
His sister's smile was enough for Time to know that it was a very good drink. He followed suite, and his eyes brightened.
"I'll take that as a sign that I did a great job at making my first grape juice!"
She said with a happy smile, "Usually, it's Mrs. Cake that makes the grape juice, but she's feeling kinda under the weather at the moment, and Mr. Cake is busy baking, so that left me the only one to make 'em!"
"It's really delicious, Pinkie," Time smiled at her.
"Thanks."
"Nah~ah~ah~!" she waved a hoof at him.
"Thank me later when the party's over!"
And she hopped back inside the shop.
"So," Aurora said with a smile, making her little brother look at her as he took a sip through the straw.
"Pinkie's planning on giving you a welcome party?"
"M-hmm..." he replied, not removing his lips from the straw.
Aurora chuckled.
"Makes me remember the welcome party Pinkie threw for me..."
Hearing that, Golden Time wanted to know what a Pinkie Party was like. His chance to ask her was gone in the instant when the pink earth filly leaned her head outside the door and gave the orange pegasus a scary glare, and slowly moved her lips, quietly sending the two of them the message "no spoilers". Afterwards, she smiled and went back to work.
"I guess you're going to have to find out on your own, Time," Aurora said with an apologetic smile. She then gave him a wink, "but I could tell you one thing about it: it'll be fun."
---
Aurora and Golden Time walked out of the edge of town, and were now heading to a hill near the feared Everfree Forest. The hill had earned the name 'Sonic Hill', because that hill was where Sonic Wave teaches the town's young pegasi ponies. They reached the top, but found nopony there, except for a low-hanging cloud a few hooves above them, with a rainbow tail dangling on one of the edge of the white fluffy cloud. A soft set of snores could be heard from it.
As Aurora turned her head around, trying to spot anypony else, Golden Time fixed his gaze on that rainbow tail with disbelieving eyes.
"R-Rainbow Blast?"
He whispered, making his older sister turn to him with an arched eyebrow.
"Rainbow Blast? Who's that?"
To answer her question, Golden Time pointed a hoof towards the cloud. Aurora looked up, and then back to him.
"That's Rainbow Dash..."
Hearing her name, the rainbow-maned filly groaned and turned. She was sure that she was already asleep earlier. She heard a colt's voice said her name...or rather, questioned her name. Wait, somepony doesn't know her? Taking a deep breath, she stood on all four, stretched her hooves and wings, wiped the drool on her mouth, and she finished it with a crack on her neck. She then flapped her wings and glided down and landed in front of the two ponies.
"Hi Rainbow Dash," Aurora greeted the sleepy-looking pegasus filly.
"Sorry if we disturbed your nap."
Rainbow waved a hoof to dismiss the apology.
"Nah, don't worry about it."
She then looked at the shocked-looking unicorn colt.
"So, who's the new dude?"
"Oh, uh..." Time shook his head a bit, sighed, and hung his head low.
It wasn't his friend. From her voice, her slightly unkept mane, and her gestures... It's definitely not Rainbow Blast.
"Hey," Rainbow spoke again, making the colt look at her, "why the long face?"
She chuckled slightly, "aside from being a pony, of course."
She chuckled again as Aurora rolled her eyes.
Time took a breath and sighed.
'Angle and Rose were probably right. Maybe it was time to move on, but, it's just too difficult to lose a best friend...'
He slowly shook his head before facing the confused rainbow-maned filly. He tried to smile, at least a small one would do.
"Hi," his voice sounded sad, "I'm Golden Time."
"Heh," Rainbow smirked, "nice to meet'cha."
She flapped her wings, bringing herself on the air.
"I'm Rainbow Dash! Fastest flier in all of Ponyville!"
She proudly announced with a smile as she lifted a hoof above her head.
Aurora rolled her eyes, "yeah right..."
"Don't be such a kill-joy, Aurora," Rainbow replied with a smile as she landed in front of them.
"Anyway, wat'cha doing here, anyway?"
"I'm looking for my dad," Time replied, "have you seen him?"
"Er..." Rainbow stared at him boredly, "you need to be more specific than that, dude."
"Oh, uh, sorry..."
Time cleared his throat, "...uh, his name's Sonic."
Rainbow raised a brow.
"Okay, that's too specific."
She coughed awkwardly, "Anyway, you sure he's your dad? I mean, no offence, but uh..." she pointed a hoof at him, "you're a unicorn."
"It's complicated, Dash," Aurora said, "so, you've seen him?"
"Of course I did," she replied flatly, "he's our instructor, duh. And he's your dad too. Haven't you seen him?"
"I haven't seen him since he flew here earlier this morning."
Aurora replied with a bored look.
Rainbow shrugged.
"Sonic ended our training an hour early. Last time I saw him, he was flying back to Ponyville."
"Gee," Aurora said lamely, "thanks for being specific, Rainbow..."
"Hey," the cyan pegasus spoke, "I'm not going to be following his tail wherever he flies to, y'know. Even though he's cool and all, I have my own things to worry about."
"Like napping...?"
"Hey, practice is tiresome, and I need my sleep! Heck, everypony needs sleep!"
"Whatever," Aurora shook her head, "thanks anyway."
She then turned to her little brother.
"Com'on Time. Maybe mom knows where he is."
Time nodded, and Aurora began walking down the hill towards town. He turned to the yawning cyan pegasus.
"Time for me to hit the clouds, heh heh, get it?"
That was a lame joke, Time noted, but he smiled, nonetheless.
"Sorry if we disturbed your nap, Rainbow."
He felt weird for saying that name.
Rainbow shrugged, "Nah, don't worry about it."
She extended her wings, and was about to fly, when a thought hit her.
"Hey, you're new, right?"
She received a nod.
"So, you've met Pinkie yet?"
"We met in school, yeah," he shrugged, "do you know her?"
Rainbow smirked.
"Awesome! I better tell Fluttershy!"
She flapped her wings and began flying towards the nearby forest.
"See ya!" she shouted at him before her voice was completely out of his hearing range.
He noticed a small cottage near the far-edge of the forest, and Rainbow Dash seemed to be flying towards it.
"She's kinda weird..."
Time whispered to himself as he turned and walked down the hill.
---
Sonic Wave was not at home, and Sunset doesn't know where he is. Time was no longer sure if he still wants to go and look for him. Why was he looking for him, anyway?
Remembering that she needed to go to the library, Aurora said her goodbyes and flew towards the giant library tree.
Convinced that he was looking for his dad for no reason at all, he decided to stay at home and help his step-mom in doing chores. It also granted him the chance to get to know the dark-orange pegasus mare, and for her to know him as well. They asked and answered some light questions as they went on with the chores. It only took them half an hour or so for them to complete their chores. Both ponies then settled down on the comfy bluish-white sofa in the living room. They sat with a respectable distance, and in silence. Time simply stared at the round glass table in front of them with no thoughts in mind.
"Something wrong, dear?"
Asked Sunset, making the young colt turn to her. She smiled warmly at him.
Golden Time shook his head slightly.
"No, everything's okay," he turned his attention back on the empty glass table.
"Maybe, I'm just not used to do...nothing...in the afternoon...during weekdays..." he turned to her, "I...guess?"
"Well, how about homework?"
"Already finished them before school ended..."
"Hang out with friends?"
"Applejack and Pinkie Pie said they're both busy. Boulder is as well."
"Well, how about your other friends?"
Time put a hoof on his cheek as he thought about the other ponies he knew in Ponyville.
"Well, there's this Rainbow Dash filly, but she flew off somewhere. Uh... Uncle Henry's probably busy writing his Daring Do book. Hm... Well, Daybreak is busy in the mayor's office... Erm..."
"How about Angle and Rose?"
"They told me that they're going back to Manehattan when recess was over. They promised that they'll pay me a visit from time to time."
"Well, anypony else?"
He tapped his forehead, deep in thought.
"Well, the only pony left, that I think is my friend, is that Rarity filly..."
---
'Wow... I can't believe she actually owns this place...'
Golden Time thought in amazement as Rarity led him inside the boutique.
The white spacious place was home to different kinds of fabric which were rested on wooden shelves on corners of the place. A large curtain hung from the ceiling to the ground, covering the dressing room. Mannequins were stood in line on a corner. Pieces of sketching paper were stuck on a wall inside an office-like room with a large table in the middle. A staircase leading to the second floor. Another room for the dining area, and another for a large bathroom. And layers of scattered papers and fabrics lying around the floor near a small wooden table where the little white unicorn filly was trotting over.
"So so sorry about the mess, Golden Time," Rarity said as she got to her sewing machine beside the wooden table.
"A couple ordered a pair of gowns for their twin's birthday for this weekend," she said as her horn glowed and a maroon-colored fabric levitated from behind where Golden Time stood.
"But they didn't give me any design, so I am having a very difficult time deciding what would look perfect for their daughters... But at least they gave me their measurements."
He shook his head with a smile.
"It's not a problem, Rarity."
He saw the small piece of fabric he was stepping on the floor was enveloped in blue aura. He lifted his hoof, and the fabric flew in front of the white filly, who was busy with her sewing machine. He looked around, and noticed the wonderful clothes on the mannequins.
"Wow Rarity," he spoke in awe, "I've never seen such wonderful clothes before."
"Oh, you flatter me," Rarity said with a small blush as she continued to sew, "it's nothing, really."
And then an idea sprang inside her head as she stopped and turned to him with a smile.
"Would you like me to make you one?"
Time quickly faced her with shock.
"What? No-no! I mean," he let out an embarrassed chuckle, which made the white unicorn filly arch an eyebrow.
"Uh, I don't want to trouble you and uh, you're kinda busy, and uh..." he flashed an apologetic and shy smile, "I don't have any Bits with me..."
The white filly replied with a smile and took a few seconds before returning to her work.
"It's no problem, Time. I insist!"
"Oh, but uh---"
"And besides," Rarity cut him off, "I'm sure I'll be able to finish these a few days early."
She stopped and placed a hoof on her lower lip.
"Though it would be..." she cut herself off as a smile formed on her lips.
She slowly turned to him with a measuring tape, a pencil and a notepad levitated beside her.
"Can I take your measurement?"
Golden Time blinked.
"Uh, now?"
"Oh, but of course!"
She replied and soon began walking towards him.
"Er, sure," he scratched his nape, "I...guess?"
Rarity, upon reaching the unicorn colt, began levitating the measuring tape around him. She jotted down the measurements on her notepad as she murmured the numbers in an almost non-understandable blabber. Completing her task, she nodded her thanks with a smile and began trotting back to her sewing machine with her items floating behind her. She removed the pieces of sewed fabric on the machine and rested them on a nearby mannequin. She then turned to face him.
"I forgot to ask, but what's your favorite color?"
"Oh, uh..." he let his eyes wander around the different colors of fabric in the room.
"Uh, well, I do have a liking to white and yellow..."
Rarity brought a hoof on her chin as she thought about what the colt just said. She returned her hoof on the ground with a smile and a nod.
"All right then. Thank you."
---
Rarity became busy with making Golden Time's 'suit', as she called it. She was too busy that she could hardly even remember that the pale-yellow unicorn colt was around. He politely excused himself before leaving her boutique, and he was now on his way to town hall. On the way, he asked for directions, until the establishment came into view.
He went inside and noticed the warm atmosphere in the area. Wooden chairs and desks were neatly and orderly placed for ponies to work. A staircase leading to the next floor on the right, and on the far-end of the room was the mayor's office. He spotted the pony he was looking for, and went towards the desk near the window. As he got closer, the yellow unicorn stallion looked to him and smiled.
"Hi Time," Daybreak greeted the colt as he reached him.
"I heard you moved here earlier, but I didn't expect you to visit me here."
Golden Time smiled and happily accepted his older brother's hoof patting his head.
"So," Daybreak spoke has he pulled a small stool with his magic, levitating it behind his little brother.
"What's up? Surely you're not here just to pay me a visit."
He asked with a smile.
Golden Time climbed and sat on the stool before replying.
"Actually, I kinda am," he smiled, "so, is work hard?"
Daybreak shrugged as he returned his gaze on the papers on his desk.
"Kinda, but I got used to it," he replied as he levitated a quill with his magic and began writing down on the papers.
"What are you actually doing, anyway?"
Golden Time asked, blinking.
"To make it easy to understand," he paused for a moment as he levitated the paper towards the left pile of papers, and then levitated another from the right pile, and he started writing down on it, "I'm checking the monetary flow of taxes, and I'm also in charge of approving the financial loans the ponies request for their needs."
Noticing that he used some complex words, he stopped and turned to his brother with an apologetic smile.
"Uh, did you get all that?"
Golden Time was smarter than he looked, and he replied with a smile and a nod.
"Yeah, I do."
Both ponies allowed a few minutes of silence until Time spoke once more.
"Actually, I have nothing else to do, and that is why I'm going around places."
"Morning schedule, huh?" Daybreak smiled without removing his eyes on the paper he's working on.
"Well, you could play with your friends."
He turned to him with a concerned look.
"You did made some friends, right?"
Time was confused, but nodded nonetheless.
"Yeah, I did. But they're busy with chores and stuff."
Daybreak smiled at him before returning his gaze on his work.
"I see," he took another paper before continuing, "well, you said a part of your reason was to visit me, right?"
Golden Time nodded, and guessing his brother's inquiry, he spoke, "yeah, and the other reason was, uh, to ask you something."
Daybreak turned to him with a confused expression. "Oh?"
"Yeah," Time smiled.
"I was wondering if you know where dad is."
Daybreak blinked and stared at the ceiling.
"Hm... Well," he turned to the unicorn colt, "I'm not sure, but he also makes himself busy in the Wind Hills."
"The Wind Hills?"
Daybreak nodded.
"That's what the ponies here call it, at least. It's a hill, where the top is flat and spacious. It's where the windmills are built to provide electricity for the town. A concrete building is on the foot of the hill, probably the electric factory."
He shrugged, "I haven't really visited the place, but it's safe to go there if you want."
---
As Golden Time followed Daybreak's instructions on how to get to Wind Hill, he ran into Boulder. He was also on the way to the said hill.
"Your parents work there?"
Asked Golden Time as he chewed on some hayfries that Boulder brought along.
"Yep," he swallowed, "well, my dad is there. Mom has the day-off, so she's at home."
"I see," Golden Time nodded.
The two colts have reached the end of town, and were now heading to the large building on the foot of Wind Hill. From their viewpoint, they could tell that the hill is very tall, even taller than the Sonic Hill. A few windmills were also visible from their viewpoint.
"My dad said, when he was still a young pony, he helped in the construction of those windmills."
Boulder explained as they reached the gate of the fenced factory.
The unicorn guard pony used his magic to open the gate's door for them to enter.
Noticing his friend's confused look as they entered, Boulder chuckled.
"I always visit this place," he said before turning to the guard pony and nodded his thanks. He received a nod and a smile from the pony in response.
The two colts entered the large open entrance way as sounds of sparks and electricity echoed out. Inside, the place was spacious. Looking up, Golden Time could actually see the roof above. Wires and metal rods were stuck on walls. Power generators were slightly shaking the concrete floor of the place. Ponies in brown uniforms and yellow helmets were monitoring the generators, meter boxes, and other machinery in the place. Others were seated on chairs as they work on paperworks on their desks.
Golden Time cringed, not because it was cold inside. It was actually warm, but not too warm.
"You'll get used to it," Boulder laughed.
"What is it?" Time asked, staring at his hoof and noticing his fur sticking out.
"Static," Boulder simply replied with a smile.
"Or, at least, that's what I've been told."
He shook his head.
"I don't really know, but it's weird and fun. One reason why I like visiting the place."
Golden Time looked at him with a concerned look.
"But I thought it's not safe to be close to power generators or something..."
He looked around, noticing the ponies seemingly unaware of the possible danger.
"I read in a book that continuous exposure to electricity shortens a pony's life span..."
Boulder's eyes went wide in horror, his mouth slowly hanging low. He was about to say something when a uniformed stallion came towards them.
"Knowledgable, for such a young pony."
Said a white coated dark-orange mane and tail middle-aged earth stallion with a smile.
"D-dad..."
Boulder said with trembling lips.
"What Time said... Is it true?"
Boulder's father chuckled lightly, and soon shook his head.
"Nah, nothing to worry about, son."
He turned to the confused unicorn colt.
"Of course, what your friend said just now is true."
He turned around and fixed his gaze on the power generators, where unicorn workponies were monitoring it.
"But unicorns enchanted a sealing spell on those generators even before those babies started providing electricity."
A dark-yellow unicorn stallion walked pass his view.
"Hey, Light Rod," he called, catching the unicorn's attention, "mind comin' here for a sec?"
The unicorn nodded and trotted towards them.
"What's the matter?" he asked with a concerned look.
Boulder's father turned to face the fillies as the unicorn stopped beside him.
"You're a unicorn, and these fillies are here to learn."
Light Rod blinked.
"Oh, okay," he smiled at the two little ponies.
"What do you need to know?"
Time nodded, "Right, well..."
He pointed a hoof at the generators.
"Boulder's dad said that unicorns enchanted a seal spell on them."
"Oh, that," Light Rod smiled.
"Nah, it ain't a seal spell or anything extremely advanced."
He turned to the generators, "It's actually a filter spell."
"A filter spell?" Boulder echoed, receiving a nod from the unicorn workpony.
"If you little guys are worried about the health hazard of the generators, then that's what the filter spell is for."
"It..." Golden Time spoke in confusion, "...filters our worries about the hazards?"
Light Rod blinked twice before laughing his lungs out.
"No no," he said after recovering, "ahem, sorry about that. But the filter spell is a medium-level magic that filters the dangerous effects of the generators from leaking out."
"Oh," Golden Time nodded his understanding.
"So that's why we could still feel the electricity..."
Light Rod nodded in agreement.
"Yep, but you'll get used to it."
---
After learning that Sonic Wave was not seen in the factory for the whole day, the two young ponies decided to climb the tall hill, since Sonic is the usual pony to check the windmills if any have anything that need repairs. Midway, they were now high above the factory's height, and the wind was strong, cool and refreshing. After they reached the top, the plain field was covered with green grasses and dark-brown soil. Rows upon rows of white tall windmills stood with large white metal boxes on the base of each mills. The wind is definitely cool and strong.
After recovering from awestruck, Golden Time looked around the area. It was easy to convince one's self that nopony was there, except for them.
With a sigh, he sat down and stared at the spinning propellers of a nearby windmill.
Boulder sat beside him and stared at the same windmill.
"I really like this place..." he whispered as he closed his eyes and smiled.
"It kinda feels like you're soaring in the sky..."
Golden Time turned to him and noticed his friend's smile. He turned front, and closed his eyes as he concentrated on feeling the cool wind brushing on his coat.
"Y-yeah," he quietly replied, failing to notice a smile forming on his lips, "it kinda feels like it..."
---
Both Time and Boulder had no idea how long they stayed on Wind Hill. It didn't matter to them, for it was worth it, they told each other. After reaching the foot of the hill, Golden Time waved a hoof goodbye at his friend who was going to spend a few more hours inside the factory. Golden Time trotted back to Ponyville. Since he had nothing else to do, he planned to spend the few remaining daylight inside the town's library tree. He smiled as he walked on the earthy path of the town. It did seem kind of weird for a library to be built inside a tree.
He didn't need to ask for directions this time, for the leaves of the giant tree is poking above the rooftops of the houses. As he worked his way towards his destination, he saw a familiar pink filly up ahead with a basket hat on her head with letters inside. She was cheerfully handing letters to the ponies she passes by. Golden Time wondered if those were probably the invitations for the party. He noticed the ponies who received the invitations were all so happy to be invited.
"Hey Pinkie," Golden Time greeted the filly, who was still waving a hoof at the couple who were already trotting away.
Pinkie turned to him with a big grin on her face.
"Hey Goldy," she flashed a toothy smile as she ignored Time's frown.
"Are you ready for your great welcome party tonight?"
"Tonight?"
The unicorn blinked in confusion. He sighed. He planned to sleep early later tonight.
"Aw, don't worry," Pinkie smiled as she took a letter from her basket hat.
"The party starts at five, and ends in seven," she winked as the unicorn took the invitation letter with his magic. "Us foals need our sleep, ya know. Well, at least I do! I don't wanna have those ugly black bags under my eyes!"
Golden Time chuckled, making him lose his magical grip on the letter. He levitated it once again before grabbing it with his hoof.
"Howdy y'all!"
Greeted an orange earth filly who was pulling a small wooden wagon, which was only spacious enough for a wooden barrel filled with grapes.
The two turned to her and both flashed smiles.
"Getting busy for the party, Ah see."
Applejack chuckled as she reached them.
"Uh huh," Pinkie nodded, "and you already got an invite!"
Applejack rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Oh, Pinkie. You know I always like your parties."
"Heheh, thanks," Pinkie smiled.
"Anyway, I should get going," she bounced, "still got plenty of ponies to invite, ya know!"
And she bounced away. "See ya later!"
Golden Time waved a hoof at her before turning back to Applejack.
"So, uh," he pointed a hoof at the barrel behind the filly.
"Isn't that...heavy?"
Applejack smiled and shrugged.
"Meh, not really. You could say Ah got used ta it, bein' a farm filly and all."
She turned over her shoulder and looked at the barrel for a few seconds before turning back to the unicorn.
"Anyway, Ah best be on mah way now. Mah brother needed tah sell these, since he ran out of stocks in the market place faster than he expected."
Golden Time took a few seconds to process what the filly just said before chuckling a bit, making the farmfilly to arch an eyebrow.
"S-sorry," he took a breath to calm himself, "but uh, I heard that you and your family has an apple orchard, so uh..."
Applejack smiled.
"Ah see. Yah thought it be kinda weird that we're selling grapes, don't ya?"
Golden Time nodded.
"True that the Apple Family only has the apple orchard on the farm."
She turned to look at the wagon.
"These here grapes came from our relatives back in Fillydelphia."
She turned back to the unicorn colt.
"Mighty tasty, too. Want some?"
---
"Sweet Apple Acres, huh?" a green pony asked with a smile before taking a sip from his levitated cup of tea.
Golden Time nodded, ignoring the fact that Henry must have already knew where party will be held, since he and his marefriend already received their party invitations. The filly was busy looking at the books in the bookshelves, trying to see any book that might catch his attention. Aurora was quietly reading a book on the second floor.
Pearl, who was seated beside the green pony on the couch on the first floor, took a glance on the wallclock.
"Four five," she stood up and nuzzled her stallion on his neck.
"We should get going."
"Already?"
The unicorn colt asked as he was about to levitate a book from the shelves.
Aurora removed her concentration from her book as she looked at the clock.
"But it's too early!"
Henry simply chuckled.
"Well, mares take a lot of time to---"
"Don't you dare finish that line!"
Pearl cut him off with a glare.
"Yes ma'am."
Henry obediently replied with a slightly nervous nod.
"Oh brother..." Aurora whispered as he rolled his eyes.
---
Aurora joined her little brother's quiet walk to Sweet Apple Acres as both Henry and Pearl went back to their home. He didn't hide the fact that he was happy that she's walking with him. The two siblings have already walked out of the edge of town, and were now walking on the earthy path towards the apple farm. They exchange a few questions and answers before they reached the farm.
As they arrived, Golden Time let his eyes wander on the trees of the apple orchard. The trees were still working on growing all of their leaves back. The air was cool and refreshing, and strangely carries the aroma of apples.
They continued their walk and stopped in front of the brown wooden door of the large red barn of the farm. Curious, Golden Time rested an ear on the door as he tried to hear the faintest of sounds.
...nothing...
Aurora chuckled as the colt withdrew his ear from the door with a frown. With a shrug, Aurora lifted a hoof and pulled the door open. They were greeted by the warm air that went out from inside of the barn, silence, and darkness. He could see nothing, hear nothing, and even smell nothing from inside. He turned to his sister with a concerned look.
"M-maybe we're in the wrong place?"
Aurora simply shrugged as she slowly went inside.
"Meh, maybe."
The colt took a few steps inside with worry. Aren't they both trespassing? They could get in trouble.
"Sis, I think we should g---!"
He was cut off when the barn's lights turned on, almost blinding him as large group of voices sprang out and yelled "SURPRISE!" in unison. He rubbed his eyes and stared at the large crowd of ponies as confettis and streamers started flying and falling everywhere. Ponies of different ages were present with big warm smiles and all eyes were fixed on him, before the pink earth filly popped in front of his vision out of nowhere.
"Surprise!"
Pinkie Pie with a party hat shouted with a very large grin as she waved her front hooves in the air.
Golden Time, surprised by her sudden invasion of personal space, took a step back and bumped onto somepony. He was about to turn around and apologize when a large hoof covered his eyes and another went around his chest and lifted him off the ground.
"Guess who, squirt?"
A familiar male voice whispered in his ears.
His worry immediately vanished, and instantly replaced with glee. He grabbed the hoof covering his eyes, pulled it away, and turned his head and saw his father's grinning face.
"I heard you were looking for me?"
"Daddy!"
He shouted, throwing his hooves around his father's neck, embracing him.
Everypony, even Pinkie Pie, gave them a few minutes to enjoy a father and son moment. As Henry, Pearl and Sunset went inside, the two broke their embrace, and Sonic puts his son down on the ground. He patted his son's head and turned his gaze on the crowd. Noticing their expressions, he arched an eyebrow as Sunset walked beside him.
"Come on ponies," he clapped his hooves, "this is a party, remember?"
"That's right!"
Rainbow Dash flew above the sea of ponies.
"Enough sappy! Time to party!"
As the music began playing a lively tune, the ponies started dancing and talking to each other, while others simply ate and drank. Golden Time was about to turn to his dad and talk when pink hooves grabbed his shoulders and pulled him towards the crowd as Pinkie Pie said about him needing to meet everypony present. He turned over his shoulder, and saw his father flashing an apologetic look as he moved his mouth, saying "later" quietly. He nodded as Pinkie Pie introduced him to a shy yellow pegasus filly with pink mane and tail, who seemed to be trying her best to hide herself under the large wide table.
As he let the energetic pink pony drag him around to meet new ponies, he thought of how different Ponyville is from Manehattan. Sure, he had friends there, but they weren't really helpful when he was feeling down. Here, he just arrived, and almost everypony were like his best friends. He snapped out of his thougts when Rarity came towards them with a suit in tow. She said something about it being her welcome gift to him. He accepted the gift, nonetheless, and thanked her with a smile, but as usual, the white filly waved a hoof and insisted that it was no trouble.
With friendly ponies, heartwarming smiles, and friends, and family, he knew he'll have a great and wonderful life here.