Time to go
Chapter 14
First Impressions
“So I got the job?” Hunter asked, slightly confused by his decision.
“Of course you got the job!” Roid Rage yelled, “I would be crazy to deny a great flier like you!”
“Awesome!” Rainbow Dash said. “You got the footage?” She asked Roid Rage.
“Sure do!” He said, putting a CD into what Hunter thought was a computer.
“Wait, I thought you didn't know what a computer was.” Hunter said to Rainbow Dash.
“A computer?” Rainbow asked, her eyebrow raised. “That's a viewer, it allows us to watch movies we capture with our cameras.”
“So, a movie player?” Hunter questioned.
“That's all it does.” Rainbow Dash said, taking a seat to watch.
As the viewer turned on it looked like a great, high definition, plasma screen T.V.
“No technology my flank.” Hunter thought to himself.
There were cameras placed seemingly all along their route, starting in ponyville and ending with the neck to neck finish.
Rainbow Dash seemed to shift uncomfortably when Hunter was flying circles around her. She was smiling at the end when she won however.
“Want a picture of the endgame?” Roid Rage said.
“I want one, framed if possible,” Rainbow Dash said, grinning deviously at Hunter.
“She's going to hold it over me now huh.” Hunter thought to himself.
“I'll send that to your house soon as I can get it framed all nice.” Roid Rage said chuckling. “Now that you're hired let me discuss the details with you.”
“Sure!” Hunter said bringing his chair in close to the desk.
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“Well that seems like a great job. A lot more paper work for laying around and busting clouds.” Hunter sighed, as they flew slowly back to Ponyville.
“Lots of workers comp and vacation days, mostly for people who are awesome like me.” Rainbow Dash said, spinning in the circles.
“I bet I can beat you back to Ponyville.” Hunter said, gaining a little speed.
“Bet you can't” Rainbow Dash said going faster.
Then they were off again. Speeding into the town they circled around the top of Sugarcube corner. Rainbow Dash zoomed behind it stopping for a split second to turn back around. In the time it took her to do this, Hunter had drifted, seemingly on ice as he moved his hind legs, making it look like he was turning on his skates. He never stopped. He flowed back into moving forward without losing speed.
The split second Rainbow Dash had used to turn around gave Hunter a good enough lead to fly down to the town hall and lean up against a beam.
“What took you so long?” Hunter grinned.
Rainbow Dash, trotting as she slowed to a stop merely smiled. “Smooth moves you got there.” She said, “Too bad they don't help you in a drag race.”
“Very well,” Hunter said. “Well if cloud busting is already done for today, I guess I should probably start introducing myself to ponies.”
“We should start with Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash suggested. “She loves making new friends.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Hunter said falling back down onto all fours.
They walked into Sugarcube corner and Hunter walked up to the counter.
“I want a dozen chocolate chip cookies.” Hunter said nonchalantly putting his arm onto the counter.
“Okie dokie lokie.” Pinkie said, “Anything else Hunter?”
Hunter and Rainbow Dash's jaws dropped. “Uh, no.” Hunter said “Thanks?”
“No problem, the first dozen treats are free for new friends!” Pinkie said. “Liking your new house?”
“Yeah...” Hunter said before shaking his head, clearing his thoughts. “How did you know who I was?”
“Twilight told me about you, and seeing as how you're the only alicorn to walk into my shop without any announcement and royal guards, I assumed you must be him!”
Hunter was impressed by her ability to reason. “Well you wanna help me eat these cookies, while I go make some friends?”
“Sure! It's lunch time anyways.” Pinkie said, moving to the door and switching the sign to “closed for lunch”
They walked towards sweet apple acres. Hunter thought apples would go great with cookies. By the time they got there, Hunter had eaten 9 cookies. Rainbow Dash had one, and Pinkie had finished off the rest.
“You sure like your sweets, don't you Hunter?” Pinkie said walking backwards.
“I sure do.” Hunter said, smiling and rubbing his stomach.
“Applejack!” Hunter yelled out of nowhere at the top of his voice. “Rainbow Dash says you're the slowest pony in all of Equestria!”
There was a slight rumbling sensation as dust flew into the air.
“Looks like we don't have to walk any further.” Pinkie said.
“I don't think that, Hunter!” Rainbow Dash scolded. “Now she's gonna hate me!”
“Don't worry I'll explain.” Hunter said sitting down as if nothing was wrong.
Then Applejack appeared. Her eyes a dark, stormy, glimmer. Looking into them would only cause despair. Applejack ran right up to Rainbow Dash.
“Y'all think I'm slow do ya?” Applejack said menacingly.
“No.” Rainbow Dash said, grinning innocently.
“Well then where am I hearing these rumors from?” Applejack said, still staring daggers at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash pointed at Hunter who was smiling and waving like nothing was wrong.
Applejack was about to stomp up to him and give him what for, but then she noticed his horn and wings. “What's an alicorn doin' round here?” Applejack asked, her evil demeanor disappearing in an instant.
“It's nice to meet you, my name is Hunter.” Hunter started, extending his hoof for a shake. “I just said that so that you would come meet us here.”
“Well I guess that was clever of you.” Applejack said, “But don't be spreading dirt about me, I'll have to buck your face in.”
“I promise I would never to anything of the sort.” Hunter said, pretending to stick a cupcake in his eye.
“Hey!” Pinkie objected. “That's my motion!”
“Doesn't everyone use it though?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Oh yeah.” Pinkie said.
“Well it was nice meeting you.” Applejack said, “but I still got chores to attend to, if you don't mind.”
“Mind if I help out?” Hunter said, “I know that it's really random, and it's your job, but it would be awesome if you let me help out on the farm. I've never really been on a farm before.”
“Are you sure you got the strength for it?” Applejack asked.
“I guess we'll see.” Hunter said, walking towards the farm.
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Hunter sat on the ground. He had just helped Applejack get the last bucket of apples for the day, into the barn. Rainbow Dash had helped knock the apples down, and Pinkie Pie had mostly just been eating them.
“That's harder work than I've done in a long time.” Hunter said, realizing that not much time had passed. “That sure went quickly.”
“You seem like a capable workhorse.” Applejack said, wiping her brow. “But Big Mac does this without breaking a sweat.”
It was true. Hunter's legs were wobbly from over exertion and he was sweating, a lot.
“It was nice of you to help out. Whaddya say we get some grub and introduce you to Rarity?” Applejack said walking into the barn.
She took a couple apples, tossing a few to everypony there. They munched on them as they walked into town. “Oh wait, I have to get a few things before I meet Rarity. Meet me at the boutique. Rainbow, wanna help me get some stuff from my house real fast?”
“Sure.” Rainbow said, taking off. They sped over to Hunter's house real quickly and Hunter took Rainbow Dash to his room, where he immediately started taking clothes out of his drawers. He piled them neatly into a bag and then the ones that wouldn't fit, he put into a different bag.
“I need all my human clothes altered.” Hunter said.
“What's the point?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I like wearing clothes.” Hunter said. He hadn't packed any pants, but he liked his T-shirts and hoodie too much to get rid of them.
“Fine,” Rainbow Dash said, grabbing the saddlebag and putting it on. Hunter put on his saddlebag, wondering where in the heck he got them from, and why they were gray with his cutie mark on them.
They left the house, and sped towards Rarity's boutique. When they got there and opened up the door, Applejack and Pinkie Pie were waiting for them, fawning over Rarity's latest creations.
“Absolutely brilliant!” Hunter said, trying to make the best Canterlot voice he could. “Never, have I seen, such art!”
Rarity looked over Pinkie Pie and caught sight of Hunter. He wasn't wearing any fancy clothes, or a monocle. He was however, an alicorn, and if an alicorn thought her dresses were beautiful then she was having a good day.
“You really think so?” Rarity squealed, eliciting snickers and giggles from her friends.
“Yes,” Hunter said continuing his facade. “How much must I pay for these brilliant designs.”
Rarity's eyes widened and she started to stutter in her excitement. Then Rainbow Dash fell on the ground laughing. Applejack and Pinkie Pie joined in. Rarity's smile turned into a frown and her eyebrows caused her to glare.
“Well I'm not exactly famous,” Hunter said, returning to his normal voice. “But your dresses really are beautiful.” Hunter bowed slightly, taking up her hoof and kissing it. “Just like you.”
Everyone but Pinkie Pie stopped laughing. Rarity blushed. Rainbow Dash just stared at them, feeling a little jealous. Why was she jealous? Applejack just hung her jaw.
Hunter stood back up and looked around. Releasing her hoof. He blushed slightly “I was just being polite.” Hunter said. Everyone stayed quiet. Hunter blushed like crazy “I was making fun of her, I had to make up for it somehow!”
Nopony spoke, even Pinkie was quiet. “Well, then” Hunter said, turning back to Rarity. “My name is Hunter, and despite the awkwardness of this situation, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Hunter said holding his hoof out.
Rarity snapped out of it, and shook Hunter's hoof. “Well then it's nice to meet you as well.” She said, “It's nice to know that somepony has manners around here, and knows how to treat a lady. Even if he was being a joker.”
Hunter sighed with relief as she understood. Everypony stopped gawking, and seemed to go back to normal. “What can I do for you Hunter?” Rarity asked, placing her display mannequins back to their positions.
“I need some clothes altered.” Hunter said, taking his saddlebags off. “I just need them refitted for wings, and possibly for a horn.”
“That should be no problem,” Rarity said lifting the bags and noticing the straps were damp from Hunter's sweat.
“Paying should be no problem.” Hunter said, “I just got a job cloud busting.”
“There is a fee for requesting my services.” Rarity said, “You have to pay a little before, and after I fix them, based on how many clothes you need changed, and how difficult it is to change them.”
Hunter lost his grin. “I don't have any money now...” He thought to himself. He checked his pockets, and felt something rough.
“That will be 125 bits.” Rarity said, counting up his shirts and things. “15 for the hole for your horn on the hood of your... cloak and the wings as well.”
Hunter pulled the object of his pocket to find a rubber chicken. He stared at it for a moment. His pockets usually gave him things that he needed, or were relevant to the situation. How was this relevant?
“Hey! I was looking for that!” Pinkie said, grabbing the chicken. “Where'd you find it?”
“In my pocket.” Hunter said, before turning to Rarity, “Unfortunately it would seem that I don't have any money for you right now.” He said, rubbing his hoof on his head.
“I'll pay for it.” Rainbow Dash spoke up, “Then you can pay me back when you get enough.”
“Sounds good to me.” Hunter said, “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Rainbow Dash said, handing Rarity a bag of bits.
“How generous of you.” Rarity said.
“Nah it was nothing.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Well Rarity,” Hunter said, smiling, “I'm sure you've been busy, but I've been gathering everypony to meet. Wanna come with to meet Fluttershy?”
“I'm far too busy, considering the order you just gave me, and the orders that came before it.” Rarity said.
“You take as long as you want to fix those.” Hunter said, “I'll still pay full price, and you can take as much time as you need on other orders.”
“If you say so.” Rarity said, “I'm still quite busy, thanks for stopping by, it was nice meeting you!” She yelled, as they walked out the door.
“It was my pleasure.” Hunter said before shutting the door behind him. Then out of nowhere he got rammed into, from the side.
He balanced himself and looked at who knocked into him.
“Oh hey Sweetie Belle.” He said nonchalantly, “Where are you off to in a hurry.”
She froze for a moment wondering who this stranger was and how she knew his name. “Who are you?”
“My name is Hunter,” He said, “I'm a new resident here in ponyville and your sister is altering my clothes for me.”
“Why would you need your clothes altered if you just moved to a new town?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Well,” Hunter said, “When you suddenly turn into an alicorn, you kinda need your clothes fixed.”
Sweetie Belle furrowed her brow, considering what he had just said. She gave up thinking, and went inside.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at him with quizzical expressions.
“What?” Hunter said, looking at the group. “I told her the truth didn't I?”