As Mac and I traversed the roads that led to Ponyville I had managed to coax a fair amount of information about Ponyville from Mac, I was pleased to find out that they had a sizable library for a small town and it was now on my hit
list for places to visit during my stay in Ponyville with Moonshine, he had also explained about the other establishments in Ponyville such as a local favourite called Sugarcube Corner which he explained naturally sold sweets and numerous other delights that would be well worth my visit. I smiled at this, I had always had a sweet tooth and a good sum of my bits always ended up being spent on doughnuts and other delectable treats. He went on to tell me of a small dress shop in Ponyville that was renowned for its clothes, well worth the visit if I was after fancy attire for the future.
After finishing up telling me about Ponyville our conversation grinded to a halt and soon the only noise was the sound of our hooves on the dirt road and the low rumbling of my caravan. Without conversation to occupy me anymore I turned my attention to the scenery around us, most of it was a sea of rolling green hills but off in the distance I could make out Canterlot perched on the side of the cliff face, on the other side I spotted an ominous looking forest that seemed almost devoid of light, looking at it sent chills down my spine there was something strange about the forest. I made a mental note to avoid crossing too close to it during my stay in Ponyville.
"So why don't y'all tell me bout yourself?"
"Hm? Oh there isn't really all that much to tell" I replied, my modesty all of a sudden making itself known.
"Well it won't take ya long t' tell me then" he retorted, flicking me a friendly smile.
"Well I loved travelling from when I was young and as soon as I could I made sure I was on the road, picking up jobs from town to town, I did a lot of jobs when I travelled but I really liked working where I could talk to ponies so naturally I loved selling things for a part time job and I leapt at every opportunity I could. Eventually I put two and two together and decided what could be better than travelling from town to town selling my wares, I've been doing it ever since".
"How'd ya meet 'Shine"?
"I was only starting out as an Entrepreneur at the time, I stopped at Manehatten and decided to unwind at a bar which Moonshine happened to own at the time and we talked, I got drunk and he put me to bed at his place, and that's how friendships are formed."
Mac gave a small chuckle before he stopping somewhere on the very outskirts of Ponyville to point out a small cottage that rested on the crest of a small hill "that's where most of the folk round here take their animals when they're sick"
"Oh I don't have any pets" I explained "It'd be difficult to take care of a pet on the road, I'd like one but I don't think it'd be fair on the animal having to be on the move all the time".
Mac mumbled something about me getting on with a shy well but I didn't want to interrogate him about it.
Later down the road he stopped again and pointed out a large floating fortress that was seemingly made of clouds that sported a...rainbow waterfall? It was unlike anything I'd ever laid eyes on, in all my travels of Equestria I had never encountered anything remotely like this.
"That's amazing” I whispered under my breath, my eyes locked on the floating bastion before me.
"Eeyup, sure is" he stated. Mac chuckled under his breath as I continued to stare "c'mon now we gotta get home before AJ wonders where ah am" he pointed out.
"oh um right, sorry" I apologized. "So who's A J if you don't mind me asking"
"AJ's mah sister" he stated
"Does she work on the farm like you?"
"Eeyup, sure does." He stopped in his tracks leaving me to walk past him a pew paces. "Ah'l warn ya since ya seem t' be a honest stallion, she'll buck ya into next Tuesday if ya'll try anythin."
I gave a hearty laugh at his advice, to which he replied with a quizzical look "I'm just here to catch up with Moonshine, check out his bar and relax for a bit Mac, I won't be chasing tails or anything like that"
"If you say so pardner" he chuckled
"What you think that I'll end up trying to get in with her?"
"Eeyup. Or one of 'er friends"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence" I replied, sarcasm dripping from every word.
A small smile began to form on his face "S'all right" he remarked choosing to completely ignore my sarcasm, much to my annoyance.
He began to make his way forward to Ponyville with me and my caravan in tow, as we made our way into the town I noticed black clouds start to form over the quiet village "must be scheduled for rain today" I muttered.
Mac just kept walking through town, unfazed by the dark masses swirling above the town. As we walked I noticed ponies stare out at me from their house windows, their gaze's putting me in the spotlight, my every move being analyzed and judged. I suppose I can't blame them, I was a stranger hauling a caravan with various good spilling from its sides around their town, I'd think it was strange too.
"So uh Mac, how far to the bar?" I questioned with a hint of worry evident in my voice. Being rained on was not on my to-do list.
Mac once again stopped. "It's jus round the corner and down 'th road on the right, ya can't miss it
I tilted my head at him, my question already forming on my lips.
"Sorry ah can't go with ya, I've got 't get back to the farm before it rains, best of luck 't ya pardner" and wishing me the best he turned and galloped to what could only be his farm.
Sighing, I made my way around the corner my eyes scanning over every building I passed in search of the bar. I gave a weary glance at the darkening sky silently praying that I would avoid the downpour in time.
As I journeyed down the road I noticed a singular building that looked somewhat out of place, all the buildings surrounding it were older and smaller while this building looked relatively new and was considerably larger than its neighbors. Despite being new it didn't look 'modern' it looked like it could easily be part of the village around it if it wasn't for its polished wooden deck outside and walls, but that just comes with being recently constructed I guess.
I sauntered up to the building and detached myself from my caravan "Oh sweet Celestia it feels good to be free" I moaned. Once I was done with enjoying my newfound freedom I wandered onto the polished deck of the building and gave a dramatic push on the door. At least that was what I had planned on doing, when I had planned dramatically heaving open the door I hadn't counted on said door being locked and me falling flat on my flank and looking like a foal.
I quickly scrambled to my feet and looked around to make sure nopony had seen my pitiful attempt at opening the door.
I gave the door another look, surely Moonshine wouldn't lock it in case somepony stopped by. I pondered why he would lock the door for a few more seconds when a fluttering piece of paper attached the window beside the door caught my eye. I picked the piece of paper up and gave it a deadpan stare.
Sorry everypony, have to go to Canterlot to stock up. Be back in a few days.
~Moonshine.
"Great, absolutely brilliant" I mumbled to myself. "My luck officially hates me"
I gave an exasperated groan as I realized I had nowhere to stay, I HAD planned on staying with Moonshine but alas my plans are once again foiled. I looked back at the brewing storm and rolled my eyes at the conundrum I found myself in.
I strode over to my caravan and opened the door to peer inside only to be met with a wall of items that prevented and attempt at getting inside the caravan without completely rearranging everything . "Oh, well so much for sleeping in here" I stated.
I stepped out of the caravan and closed the door, only for it to snag on a small object on the floor. I knelt down to see what it was and as it turns out it was a rolled up cover for the caravan. "Maybe my lucks warming up again"
I strung the cover over the caravan to prevent the rain from soaking my caravan and everything inside. With that done I no longer had to worry about all my merchandise being saturated and unsellable.
"Hm, I wonder if they have another Inn around here somewhere" I asked myself.