Damien woke with the rising sun the next morning whether he wanted to or not.
“Pit damned sun princess magic!” he cursed as glared at the rising orb. “Don’t get how a world with so many magic users can’t sense that spell every morning.” He continued to glare at the sun for a few more moments before turning away and giving it a quick one talon salute. It was juvenile but it made him feel a little better. “First wards I put on this house are going to completely cancel out all spell noise,” he vowed as he headed down the stairs.
He took in the meticulously clean living room in one long sweep. Apparently Pinkie had cleaned up after the party like she had promised, if anything the place was probably cleaner than it had been the day before. His eyes lingered on the locked front door, the door with bolt lock that could only be set from the outside with one of the two keys only he possessed. He shook his head as he resolutely stomped that train of thought out. There was nothing to be gained from speculating on Pinkie’s actions. In the end he would just blame it all on whatever magic she seemed to command.
He was halfway to his kitchen when he remembered that there was nothing in the house to eat. It was his own fault, he supposed. Grocery shopping would have been a good idea but he had wanted to get home quickly. This just meant he would have to shift his plans around a little. Getting some actual money would have to be shunted to the top of the list. Unfortunately taking the place of heading to the library and finding all the books he could on local history and whatever other useful topics he could find. Scrying an entire world for a year can only get you so much information after all and he would have to learn as much as he could if he wanted to really mess with Lyra and Bon Bon.
On the topic of money he still hadn’t hammered out just how much Gilda was going to be paying in rent. He had promised it would be discounted but with no idea what constituted a standard rate he hadn’t the slightest idea what kind of discount to give her.
Although…. Was Gilda a virgin? She already thought he was crazy so if he demanded some vials of blood in exchange for room and board he wouldn’t have to worry about actual numbers when it came to the rent and he would have a steady source of fresh blood for his more difficult spells. He smiled contentedly as he looked over his plan for flaws. This would work out perfectly. Or it would as long as she agreed to it of course. Even if she wasn’t a virgin fresh blood willingly given would be a wonderful tool. Unfortunately people tended to be unreasonably attached to their blood for some reason.
It would probably be a while before he would get to ask her about it though. He doubted that many people would be up at this ungodly hour. Making sure that his satchel was at his side and that it still had everything he had put in it, a good fifteen minute process, he opened the door and walked out to meet his first day as a citizen of Ponyville.
Only to be knocked back into his house as a cross-eyed pegasus slammed into him and sent them both sprawling onto the ground.
Don’t kill her. She didn’t do it on purpose. There aren't any herpes trying to kill you here. This is not an attack. Killing people would only get him in trouble here and he was in no way prepared for the trouble a simple murder would bring for him. With these and other such happy thoughts buzzing in his head he scrambled back to his feet and helped the grey pegasus to hers.
“Sorry ‘bout that,” she apologized as she studied her hooves ashamedly.
“No… It’s okay. I can handle a little crash now and then,” he reassured her. “Do you have mail for me or something? I’m surprised someone already knows my address.”
“Oh! Right! The letter!” She paused as she rummaged around in her mailbags. In a surprisingly short time considering the chaos that was her mailbag she pulled out a bright pink envelope and presented it to him.
“Pinkie?” he asked as he took the letter gingerly.
“Yep!”
“Of course. Thank you for your hard work my dear.”
Smiling contentedly at the passing praise Derpy leapt into the sky and headed for her next stop, narrowly missing a tree in the neighbor’s yard.
Seeing that the mailmare was managing just fine Damien took to the air himself, flying low along the ground as he sliced open his letter. The first thing he saw upon unfolding the piece of paper in the envelope was a grinning picture of Pinkie Pie herself gesturing to the words ‘Pinkie’s After-party Questionnaire!’ Beneath the title was a long list of multiple choice questions about the perceived quality and enjoyment of last night’s party. Damien couldn’t help but grin as he looked over some of the questions. His grin grew as he saw a number of questions related to how he would receive parties catering to slightly older individuals including a list of his favorite mixed drinks and more risqué party games. Not having a quill or ink available Damien simply used his talons to poke holes in the appropriate spheres. If the questionnaire was any indication of their quality he would certainly have to try to be invited to some more of Pinkie’s parties.
<-[XXXXX]->
It wasn’t long after he had finished filling out Pinkie’s questionnaire that he swooped into the market. Despite the early hour there were already several stalls in the process of setting up and preparing their goods for sale. Damien smiled at the familiar sights. Equestria may be very very different from home but it was good to see that some things remained constant. He flared his wings and dropped down to the ground with a dull thud, startling the two ponies setting up a stand immensely.
“Mornin’ boys. Mind if ask you for some directions?” he asked amicably as he stifled a chuckle at the looks on their faces.
Understandably it took a moment for them to respond, it’s not every day that a griffon just drops out of the sky and lands right in front of you. After a few seconds of just gaping at Damien the blue stallion managed to gather his wits. “Sure thing, Damien right? Met you at the party last night.”
Damien chuckled and nodded. “And you would be Noteworthy.” He turned to the scarlet stallion. “And Burnt Oak right?”
Noteworthy nodded. “Got it in one. I’m surprised you remembered our names. Pinkie must’ve introduced you to dozens of ponies last night.”
Damien tapped the side of his head meaningfully. “Got a very good memory for names and faces. Anyway, I don’t have any of local currency but I do have a couple gold bars. Any idea on where I would be able to get rid of them?”
Burnt Oak looked at him suspiciously. “You’re not talking about anything illegal are you?”
“Gates no! I just need to know if you have any moneychangers or the like that could turn my assets into spendable money. Didn’t have access to anyone that would give me bits back home so I converted my fortune to solid gold and resolved to work it out later.”
Burnt Oak continued to look at Damien suspiciously until his friend poked him in the side. Hard. “Sorry about that Damien. Oak can get a little suspicious at times. You’re going to want to go to the bank. Just head down that street and take the third left.” He gestured down a road leading away from the market. “It’ll be the fifth building on the right, can’t miss it.”
Damien smiled and thanked both of the stallions for their help before taking wing again.
<-[XXXXX]->
An hour and a half later Damien was walking out of the Ponyville bank with a large supply of bits in his satchel and even more in an account he had just finished setting up. The ponies would actually pay him to let them hold onto his money! He shook his head happily at the concept for what felt like the thousandth time today. It was like investing in a merchant or trade venture with much lower rewards and near zero risk. Equestria truly was interesting. A rumbling stomach quickly reminded him of what he had originally wanted the money for in the first place.
He closed his eyes in an attempt to remember where the various restaurants were in Ponyville and what they served. As he slowly drew up blank after blank as to what was on the menu of every restaurant in town he cursed his lack of foresight on the matter. Why had he spent so much time observing the culture, language, and general mindset of the place instead of making sure he’d be able to eat anyway? It was amazing how little things like making sure he could fit in mattered when one was as hungry as he was at the moment.
He grumbled to himself as his gaze flashed back and forth along the streets irritably. Most restaurants probably just served pony food, hay and flowers. Sure he wasn’t expecting meat or fish but he had to make sure he got at least something comparable to a good spinach casserole. His eyes suddenly widened in glee as remembered what he had been doing before he had headed to the bank. The questionnaire! The questionnaire that he had to return to Pinkie! Pinkie who lived just above a sweet shop and bakery!
He ran his tongue over his beak as he took to the air imagining the sort of sugary delights that awaited him. Maybe Pinkie’d even give him a freebie for returning the questionnaire!
<-[XXXXX]->
Damien swept into Sugarcube Corner with a grin, a bag full of bits, and a stomach full of empty. “Greetings! I demand sustenance and will pay most handsomely for your assistance!” he nearly shouted with a flourish.
Inside the bakery he wasn’t greeted by an enthusiastic response of Pinkie’s but the confused stares of Mr. and Mrs. Cake.
“Huh. I was expecting Pinkie.”
“Oh, you must be that griffon she was talking about. Damien right?” Mrs. Cake asked.
“That be me. I was hoping to get some breakfast stuff. No food at home.”
“Then you came to the right place.” Mrs. Cake smiled as she gathered up a large selection of danishes, cinnamon rolls, and donuts. “Will this be enough?”
Damien’s eyes glittered as she surveyed the food she had gathered. “Gates yes! It looks fantastic! How much?”
“Ten bits. Will you be eating them here or no?”
After a quick glance behind him to make sure that he wasn’t holding up any lines Damien smiled and forked over a ten bit piece. “I’m eating these right here and now.”
<-[XXXXX]->
As Damien finally started eating his long awaited breakfast another griffon was taking other important steps of the day.
Gilda yawned hugely as she stretched and looked blearily around her. The room looked familiar but where was she? She groaned as memories of last night came to her in full force. “Right. The stupid party kept me up all night. Damn ponies don’t know how to be quiet,” she grumbled to herself. Still grumbling she wandered into the halls in search of one of the bathrooms. After taking care of some important business she found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror.
“Okay. I got this far but now what?” she asked her reflection angrily. “I’ve been planning this thing forever! Why can’t I figure out what to do next? Why can’t those loser ponies just make this easy for themselves!?” she raged at the mirror.
The mirror remained silent of course. But sometimes silence is just what someone needs.
“Because I just expected it to all work out right? Figured they would all just come right to me and apologize. And they should! I didn’t do anything wrong!” She paused for a moment as she saw that her feathers were beginning to get ruffled up. Combined with a nasty case of bedfeathers she looked like a mess. She couldn’t go outside like this. Go outside. How could she go outside? Yesterday she had an excuse to be in Ponyville. Yesterday Damien was her fall guy. She doubted that she’d get him to cover for her forever. Not that she needed help of course! She could do anything if she put her mind to it! She just… didn’t feel like it at the moment.
In an attempt to divert her mind from that and similar subjects Gilda got to work preening her feathers and attempting to straighten herself out. Menial and repetitive though the process might be it was a soothingly familiar action that helped her calm down. A calmness that lasted only as long as it took for her to notice that someone was knocking on the door.
She tried her best to ignore it but the knocking just kept coming. “Hey freak! Someone’s at the door!” she yelled into the hall in an unknowingly pointless attempt to rouse Damien. When she received no answer she headed for the stairs with a scowl that could curdle milk.
“What do you want?” she growled as she threw the door open.
“Oh! Sorry but is Damien here? He expressed some interest in meeting up for a study session and when he didn’t show up I thought he might have slept in.”
Gilda glared at the visitor as her mind slowly processed the image of the unicorn before her. Purple coat, purple and pink hair, dweeb. “Oh hey, you’re one of Dash’s friends aren’t you?” she finally asked as the pieces started to click together.
The unicorn looked surprised at for a moment before responding. “Yes! I’m Twilight Sparkle. And you’re… Gilda right? Dash told me about you.”
“Good things?” Gilda asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Ummmm…” Twilight’s eyes shifted back and forth. “Damien!” she nearly shouted. “You never said if he was here or not!”
Gilda glared at the unicorn for a few moments before responding, “that bad huh?”
Twilight winced at the griffon’s deadpan tone. “Well not… that bad. Just… kinda… not that good,” she mumbled as she stared down at her hooves.
“Whatever.” Gilda waved a claw. “Don’t think the freak is here. Shouted for him to open the door and he didn’t do anything.” She paused for a moment. “You can come in and check for yourself if you want.” Not waiting for an answer she headed off to the kitchen in search of food.
Twilight shuffled her hooves awkwardly on the doorstep for a few moments before following Gilda into the house. As she headed up the stairs she couldn’t help but remember the conversations she’d had with Dash about Gilda during the party. Dash had seemed so angry that night. But she had also looked sad and hurt. In any case Gilda hadn’t seemed to be anywhere near as bad as Dash had been making her out to be. A little short tempered maybe but not horrible.
A quick check of the upstairs confirmed that Damien wasn’t still sleeping and was unlikely to still be in the house. Had he forgotten the appointment at the library? Before she could follow this train of thought any further she was interrupted by an angry screech coming from the first floor. Gilda! She turned and raced towards the stairs at a gallop, calling her magic to the ready in case something had happened.
Twilight burst into the kitchen expecting to find chaos, destruction, or some other disaster. What she found instead was a very angry griffon belting out an impressive stream of curses at an empty refrigerator. Twilight felt her face redden as the curses continued to their crescendo and eventually dissipated.
“I-is something wrong?” she managed to ask as she got as close as she dared to the angry griffon.
“There’s no food anywhere in this damn kitchen!”
“Well I guess that makes sense. You only moved in here yesterday and you didn’t-” her mouth snapped shut as she saw the death glare Gilda was shooting her way. “Sorry,” she squeaked.
Gilda sighed and tried to assume a slightly more friendly appearance. “Nah, just hungry. I’ll have to go find something else.” She suppressed a twinge of apprehension as the idea of heading out into town reared its ugly head again.
“Ummm, you could come to the library with me,” Twilight offered tentatively. “Spike is going to make extra waffles for Damien when he shows up. Since he never did…” Twilight’s voice trailed off as she looked at Gilda expectantly.
Gilda was stunned by the sudden invitation. This was just what she needed. An excuse to head out into town. If Dash or any other loser ponies got mad she could just blame Twilight. But why was the unicorn making the offer anyway? She had to be playing some sort of secret game, but what? In the end Gilda’s stomach made the entire mental exchange pointless by protesting loudly at the idea of not receiving waffles. “Fine, whatever,” she grunted in acceptance of Twilight’s invitation.
“Excellent! Let’s go,” Twilight said happily as she left the house. She suppressed a small smile of triumph as she noticed Gilda following hesitantly behind her. She really didn’t seem to be as bad as Dash had made her out to be and even that might just be because she had lost a friend. She knew she would be miserable if she lost any of her friends. Gilda probably just needed to be given a chance. Maybe Twilight could even repair Dash and Gilda’s friendship! Twilight’s thoughts continued in this manner with a poorly hidden glee all the way to the library.