The way to Caramel's house was without any inconvinients, the real deal was the weather getting worse every second, threatening with letting itself fall on us with full force. His house was in the edge of the town, close to an orchard called "Sweet Apple Acres", he work there, it was convinient enough to live close to work.
"Wait, I remember you worked in a cafe, weren't you?" I said, wondering how did he managed to lost his... forth job?
"Uh yeah... About that" he start talking slowly, clearly embarresed for what was about to say, "The local was full and I was kind of busy... And, uh, I forgot to empty the cream machine..." said lowering his head, "Long short story, the entire place finished covered in coffe cream and I had to buy a new cream machine".
"How do you manage to blow up everything?" I said, widening my eyes, guessing what had happened.
"Says the guy who can't move a electric cloud without shocking his whole class?" he shot back, playfully.
"Aw c'mon, it was my first year" said wicing, remembering bitterly that day. "So... where can I stay?"
"Oh, yeah... How could I forget?" he said to himself. Caramel took me to the second floor, he had a pretty big house despite he lived alone. "You can stay in the guest's room" he said pointing at the room in the end of the corridor. His own room was in the opposite side of the house. I walked in the room, examinating it with my eyes. The walls were painted with a nice blue sky, it has a single bed, a little closet, a desk with a little lamp and a night table next to the bed. As fast as I saw it, I knew that I would be comfortable in this place. I never didn't need that much of things to be comfortable. I mean, if it had a bed and a door I would be happy.
"It's perfect" I said letting my things aside the bed. "Thanks Mel".
"No need to thank me, that's what family is for" he said with a warmth grin. "Now finish setting up and come down to grab some food so you can rest, you look exhausted".
'I am' I though, trying to hide it. "Ok, I'll be down in a sec". He just nod and walk down the stairs. I never like to worry people needlessly, nowadays they had enough problems to deal with others, I could handle by myself... As always been.
The only thing I wanted was lay in the bed and fell unconscious. I look for the pills in my baggage and let them in the night table. When I shake it I felt them half empty, maybe less, it was time get
a new jar. "Hey Caramel, when are you gonna send a letter to Sage?" I yell to him from my room. Sage was Caramel's brother, also my cousin. He was a medic, worked in the main hospital of Manehathan. He graduated in the same university I was about to get in. He start to gave me those pills when I began to have sleep problems, after... I stoped the thought suddenly, unable to continue it. 'No... just let it go', I thought trying to clear my head, even though I knew it wouldn't go away.
"THUNDER!" Caramel scream right next to me, making me jump. "Are you sure you ok?. Seriously dude, you look like you're gonna pass out or something?" he said, offering me a slice of pie.
"I told you, I'm just tired" I said a little bit roughly, accepting the food.
"No you didn't, you just look like" he teased me, while I throw him a irritated gaze. "How I was saying, why do you want to send Sage a letter?"
"I'm taking some pills and running out of them" I said pointing at the little jar."What are you taking" he said grabbing the jar, by the way his eyes get wide, he recognize what they were. "Wow dude, this's some heavy stuff, you could knock out a buffalo with this, sleep troubles?" he asked.
I let out a deep sigh, "No Caramel, I use them to knock people out and steal their stuff" I said with a clear tone of sarcasm.
"Anypony special you use them?" he said following the game with a evil smile on his face.
"I'm not like you, you know?" I said, taking a big bite of the pie. This was getting ridiculous.
"Aw come on, I saw you eyeing that pegasus back in the station"
"W-what?!" I yell while I choke with the food. I feel the blood start to poll in my cheeks. "What does even make you thinks that I swing that way?" I said looking away trying to hide my face, completely red now.
"Well, your face is giving the hint right now" he declared, blowing my expectations.
"I was just grateful for what he did" I said trying to win a lost battle. "He literaly saved my university admission".
"Whatever you say. Now get comfortable and rest, we are going to the market tomorrow" he said while he took the dish I've just use, relieved that he changed the subject. "And about Sage, you could write it in the morning before we go out" said walking out the room.
"Ok, see you tomorrow... And thanks for letting me stay" I said genuinely with a small grin.
"Hey now, don't you worry 'bout it, and seriously, stop thanking me, it's getting annoying" he hissed, wincing. "You are my family, of course I'll help you"
"Yeah, than..." He glance at me, widening his eyes. "See you tomorrow" I said and he leave the room giggling.
After he was gone I throw myself on the bed, digging in my thoughts. Back in Manehathan ponies weren't this considerated. You could be getting mugged in a alley and they would just pass, could fell in the middle of the street with all the grocerys and they would walk by, not even looking at you. As I said before, I don't want to bother anyone, but there was something called "Goodwill", and they clearly didn't know it, at least most of them. Maybe that's was why I get impressed by the pegasus action, back to the station.
I look out the window, it started raining, really hard. Without will of doing anything else, I roll in the bed towards the night table and took the pills, studying it carefully, asking myself what wonderful components it had on them that gave me a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. I took one and let my body relax, waiting for the effect to come. Closing my eyes and letting my mind wander, I wonder how much time will it take before I fell unconscious... Apparently it wasn't that much.
I feel the rays of the sun fall in my fur, it wasn't that suffocating heat, it was warmth and soft, so comfortable that I actually thought about stay there the whole day. When I decide to stay a few more minutes, I felt something puffy hit my face. I open my eyes instantly, just to see the pillow on my face. "Wake up, sleepy head...". Removing the pillow from my face I saw Caramel with a silly smile on his face, satisfied with his method of waking me up. "The sun's out, the birds're whistling, and if we don't go out soon the market is gonna run out of food".
"Oh please, it's like eight in the morning. What kind of pony goes to market at this hour?" I said whining putting the pillow back in my face, waiting for him to leave me alone. Ripping the pillow from my hooves, Caramel point at the window, inviting me to look. Looking outside, I see ponies with carts and saddlebags walking in the same direction, despite the storm of last night the sky was completely clear and the sun shines brighter than ever. "Things are different here, city boy" he said, dragging me out of my room, "Now have some breakfast, it is the most important meal on the day and we don't want any faints in the middle of the market, do we?"
"You're starting to sound like Sage" said swallowing the waffles he had made. I wasn't into candy that much, but boy, he knew how to make some good ones.
"It's the price for living with him while he was studying" he said, smirking. "In fact, he used to live in the same room you sleep last night" he declared, rubbing his chin.
"Gid Sage lif wit yu?" I said trying to swallow. God this was delicious.
"Well yeah, this was Mom's house" he said like it was obvious, probably it was, and that would explain the size of the house.
"And your family?" I asked curious, "Where did they go?"
"Well, as you know, Sage went to work to Manehathan after a few years working in the local hospital, my mom and my sister went to live with Grandma" I said thoughtfully as he took the dishes to the kitchen. "And then there is the lil' old me, who stay working in the orchard with the Apple family, they are really nice people. Mom offer me to go with them but honestly I never like the city that much" he said wincing, he look to be doing it pretty well on his own here anyway.
"You wouldn't, that's the whole reason I came here" I said while I help him with the dishes. "So you have the whole house for you own?"
"Uh yeah, I mean, my ex came to live here a couple months before we broke up" he said with a hint of sadness. "She left me for someone else".
"Wow dude, I'm sorry... Did you know the guy?"
"Eh yeah, I mean no... That's the whole point. There wasn't a 'he', it was a 'she'" I was about to say something when he talk again, "But enough of that, we should get going now" he clearly didn't want to talk about it.
"Alright, just gimme a sec, I look like a mess"
After finishing with the dishes I went to the bathroom so I can get a little bit more decent. Needless to say, I knew for sure that my mane was a disaster, it was the same show every morning. Watching my reflex in the mirror I comfirmed my guesses. Putting my mane under the torrent of water I began to stroke it softly and after a little fight with it, it came back to normal.
Walking downstairs again, I took the saddlebag Caramel gave me for today, I didn't know what it had I just put it on. After adjusting it in my back I found myself ready to go.
Outside, Caramel was adjusting the reins on his back as well, "We ready?" he ask eagerly.
"Let's get to it" said as we start our trip.
I took the opportunity of take a good look of the town. The house were pretty simple, awful big though, most of them with beautiful gardens. Despite of being Saturday there was a great amount of activity in the streets, unlike Manehathan. I knew the moment we arrived to the market when I saw a sea of ponies buying in differents stands, there was a lot of them, probably this was the main street, cause it was a pretty long way until the end. It was impossible to walk in there without bumping into anypony. "Hold on just a sec" Caramel said and I stoped, he start to look for something in the saddlebags, changing the side he took a list with different articles. After looking for a pen he start to cross out some of them. Then he gave me back the list and a little bag of bits. "Here, you go look for the things I didn't mark, I'll get those."
"Sounds like a plan" I said examinating the list. There wasn't that much. "But how will you get the other things if I have the list?"
"It's all here, my friend" he said poking his head.
"I'm not quite sure to that" I said playfully.
"Whatever, we'll me in the Sugarcube Corner, I need to get something from there anyway. The first on get there waits the other" he said walking towards the crowd, "And try to not destroy the place"
"Same for you" I said, checking once more the list and gazing at the stands, identifying where could I find everything I need.
I began to wander in the market, I was actually impressed with the mood of... well everypony, all smiling, saying hi to each other, sharing a muffin or simply chatting. Everything was different, new for me, 'I could get used to this place' I thought happily.
After half hour, I had everything Caramel ask me to look for. I start to looking for the meeting point. 'Sugarcube Corner, where the hay is that?' I thought, looking for some cake shop at the sight. Distracted, I bump into somepony, making us both stumble. I saw how the others cart tip over and all its content fall to the floor, they were baking molds of different shape and size.
"Ah shut, I'm so sorry" I hurry to help, trying to put the cart back up again, " I wasn't looking and I'm a little bit lost..." I froze in the middle of the phrase, realizing who I just bumped in. 'Not this again' I thought bitterly, wishing that this was just a bad dream.
"Wow, easy there pal" the dark blue pegasus said as he put himself back on his four, stoping to give me a thoughtfull glance, realizing with who he just bumped in too. "Hey, you're the guy from the train station!" he said cheerfully.
"Hi there again" I said smirking, avoiding the eye contact, "I'm sorry for what just happened" lowering my head, waiting for him to get mad or insult me, like always happen.
"Hey now, don't worry, it was just an accident" he said sincerely, closing up to me to pick up the mess I've just made.
I just nod, keeping my sight away from his, shocked by his reaction. Of all the ponies I could bumped in, it had to be right this one?. Hurrying the process of picking up I give him a quick gaze. He was look so much like him...
"So, you're new here?" he asked throwing the last mold at the cart.
"Why do you think that?" I said defensively.
"Well, the fact that I saw you walking out that train with a lot of bags" he said, adjusting the reins to his back. "And that a few moments ago you told me you were a lil' lost" he said smiling, looking right into my eyes. Those eyes... were the only thing that difference him.
'Me and my big mouth' I said in my deeps, looking at my hooves, avoiding is gaze once more. "Yeah, I'm new in the town and... I'm a bit lost".
"What are you looking for?" he asked cheerfully. As I said before, it was weird to look everypony so happy, but it was even much weird to watch him like this again. 'Stop... It's not him' I thought.
"I-I'm looking for some place called 'Sugarcube Corner', but I think I can found it myself" I said, thinking in a way to get rid of him, and he look like he wasn't going to give up that easily.
"Oh, I was in my way there when you bumped into me, I could take you there". I thought about it, he would just take me to the store and there was no need to see him again.
"If it isn't a problem, sure, thanks"
"Of course it's not. Come on, this way" he start walking, me by his side. I notice his cutie mark was a sun barely covered by a snow cloud, his body was well toned, the body of a professional flyer... No! I wasn't looking at his flanks, you freaks!. "My name's Cloud Striker, by the way" he stopped and extended a hoof, snapping me out from my thoughts.
He stay like this a couple of seconds until I took his hoof and shake it up and down. "Thunder Luck" I mumbled loud enough to let just him hear it. I didn't realize that I still was gripping his hoof more seconds than normal ponies do, he didn't seem to be bothered though. Blushing, I loose my grip and kept walking.
"So, what brings you to Ponyville?" he asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Considering how to reply I chose my words trying to give the less information possible, "I came here to live with my cousin, needed a change of background" I said letting out a sigh.
"You came to study, didn't you?"
Widening me eyes, "H-how did you...?"
"The admission documents" he said playfully. "with career of Weather Control".
"Uh yeah... That too" said looking away. 'Of course he knew, he saved those papers... Buck'.
"When are you starting?"
There was no point of keep hiding it. "Next week, if I have luck I'd find a place to stay before that" I said, remembering that issue. "By the way, do you know if there's any residences close to the university, a campus or something, I mean so I can stay close there?"
"Actually, there is some residences that were meant to be for the students and it works like a condo. But if you gonna try to get one I recommend you to make it fast, you know, new students and all"
He looked like he knew much about it. He also didn't look much older than me. "Do you study there or something?"
"Yeah, it's my second year... In Weather Control" he said smiling.
I felt my jaw fell involuntarily. 'You've. Got. To. Be. Kidding' I thought exasperated.
"And... here we are" He said pointing at the store. It was pretty big, even bigger than some of the houses and a tower that make it look like a like a cake... Don't ask me why.
"W-well... Thanks for guiding me" I said without forgetting manners.
"You're welcome" he said giving me a warmth grin. "I'd go with you inside but I have to take this to the cellar" gazing at the charge he had on his back.
"I-I think I can handle it from here" I muttered looking around, searching for Caramel.
"Well, see ya" he said with a sweet smile as he walk towards the back of the store, that same smile that gave me at the station... The same smile that made my heart flutter. "Sure" I mumbled, not sure if he heard me. I just stay there, following him with the sight. He really look like a good guy, but that was exactly what happened the last time. "I'll never let that happen again" I said to myself, letting out a deep sigh.
While I was having me little internal fight I get into the cake store, examinating the place, looking Caramel with the eyes. There was some ponies lined up in front of the counter and a couple enjoying their food on one of the tables chatting cheerfully, but no sign of Caramel. I sat in one of the tables, waiting for him. The line of ponies start to fade slowly, everypony leaving with a wide grin, happy for getting their treats. I start to check the bags, making sure I hadn't forget anything.
When the line finally fade completely a pink pony bounced towards the two ponies sitting in the other table, caring on her head a tray with tea and some cake on it. How it was physically possible that non of those fall from her head while she was bouncing like that. Her mane look like cotton candy.
After she serve their meals she began to approch to my table, always bouncing and smiling. How could she do that to?. "Hi!, welcome to Sugarcube Corner, what are you gonna order?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm not ordering nothing, I'm waiting for somepo..."
"Hold on just a second, I haven't see you around here" She interrupted me, I froze there, waiting for the worst, "and if I haven't see you it's because I don't know you and if I don't know you it's because you're new here, and I know that because I know everypony in the town, and if you are new here that means that I'll make you a Welcoming Partyyyy!!" she said extremely excited, unable to hold her enthusiasm.
"Yes, I'm new her... Wait, WHAT?!" I said frantic, trying to process what was happening. This town was full of surprises.
"My name is Pinkie Pie and I know everypony here in Ponyville and they're all my friends, and since you're new here we can become friends as well, and tonight we'll have a welcoming partyyy!!!. Aren't you excited?!" She said putting her nose on mine, with a ear to ear smile.
"B-but I don't know anyone here" I said looking for an excuse to get out of this situation. Does she had a on/off button or something?
"Well that's the whole point silly" she said bouncing back behind the counter.
"But I..."
"He'd love to" Caramel said entering the store. I threw him a look that said 'What the buck are you doing?'.
"Hey there Mel, I have your order right here" she said looking for it. Is this the cousin you were talking about?"
"Eeyup, his name is Thunder Luck, and he came to study in the Ponyville university" he said while I was throwing glares at him.
"I suspect it 'cause I've never see him before and you told me that some cousin of yours was coming to the town and I thought we could gave him a welcoming party like I do with all the new ponies that came to the town so they could meet ponies and they don't have to be all alone and..." I stopped her shoving a hoof on her mouth, I feel how it still moved though.
"Alright alright, I'll go, just... stop please" I had to stop her before my head explote.
"Great, today at eight... And here's you order Mel" she said completely excited, giving Caramel a squared package. "Now if you two excuse me, I have to set up a PARTYY!!" she said before vanishing in the hair, leaving smoke with her form. I stay there for a moment, looking how the smoke dissappeared slowly.
"What in Equestria was that?!" I asked Caramel franticly.
"Aw gome mn, et'll ge hun" he babbled with the package still on his mouth.
"In english please" I said irritated.
"It'll be fun" he said putting the package on the table, "and she's right, you'd get to know people. Plus we all had to go throught that at some point, and you are not going to be the exception" he said playfully.
"I think they know me pretty darn well after the show I gave them at the terminal" I grumbled. He just keep staring at me, and I knew perfectly that look. "I'm not getting away from this, am I?"
"Nope" he said shaking his head.
Letting out an irritated sigh, I accepted my defeat. "Fine I'll go, but you owe me this one".
"I don't owe you anything" he said while we walked out the store.
"Oh the hay you do, you get me into this so you owe me" I said messing with him.
"She would have made you go anyways, you know that?" he shot back.
"Whatever" I said letting out another sigh. So... I just arrived in a new town and some random pony offers me a welcoming party...
What did I just get into?