The roof seemed to be my own distraction for the last hour, feeling like I didn't have the will to do anything else, I rolled on my bed so I could see the clock on the little night table. 6:30, great. I had to get ready to go to my welcoming party offered by somemepony I met a few hours ago, so I could meet some new folks. Sure, there was nothing to worry about, it was completely normal... If you are completely nuts of course.
I still wondered how Caramel managed to convince me to got there, since I wasn't a very big fan of social events, the times I had gone to some party in a group of like 7 ponies or less, I ended up drunk or making a disaster, if it weren't both.
I buried the pillow on my face once again hoping when I get it away from my face all of this was just a dream, I could pretend I was sick or say that I slept in or something, but certain cousin of my would make sure to get me out of the bed and go there, just like he did on the store. I've been in bed since we arrived to Caramel's house after having a light lunch, just some good salad, since my stomach was still a bit flattered after he awkward meeting with Cloud Striker. I knew it wasn't him, but my head kept playing tricks with me, filling itself up with old and not pleasent memories. If it was up to me, I'd stay the rest of the week in bed until classes began.
After another half hour of nothing. the clock rang, announcing 7 pm. I decided it was time to get moving, got up from the bed and walked towards the drawers where I put the few clothes I have brought, ost of them were for winter, but I also had something for some nice ocassion. After deliberating about it, now that I was forced to go it was better to make a good first impression, but if I overdress they'd think I care too much about it, then I realize what I was thinking was ridiculous. I'll go just as how they have brought me to this world, after all it was my welcoming party... 'I'm just overthinking things' I thought for myself. 'After all we all pass most of the time naked'.
After getting that done I went to the bathroom and check on my mane, which was a bit messy, but nothing that a quick shower couldn't fix. When I was finally done and ready I went downstairs, looking for Caramel and see how he was doing himself. "Excuse me" said running upstairs as fast as he could without falling, then going down again and launching some stuff to his bag on the couch, with a nervousness I knew perfectly.
"Hey, where's the fire?" I asked confused, even though I knew this wasn't about the party. "We still have like one hour before the party began!"
"Farm... something went wrong... fruit bats... Gotta go!" he mumbled panting.
"What?!" I asked as my eyes went wide. "B-But what about the party? There's no way I'm going there alone!"
"Why not? It's your party after all, go and enjoy it" he said sincerely as he adjusted the saddlebag on his back. "I'll know if you decided to change your mind and didn't assist, and you will regret it if you do"
I was about to shoot back when three loud knocks could be heard on the front door. "C'mon Caramel, those goddarn bats aren't gonna get rid off themselves, we need as much hooves as we can" some country female voice could be heard behind
of the door, clearly impacient.
"I'll be out in just a second!" he yelled back to their guest as he walk to the door. "I'm not sure if I'd be back by the night, so here it is a copy of the keys, in case I'm not home when you came back" he gave me two keys. "And don't worry about the others, they are really nice ponies, don't let your little city traumas get you now"
"Sure... Thanks" I murmured, grabbing the keys. "Are you sure you don't need more help in... what ever you are gonna do right now?"
Before he could answer another loud knocks attacked the door. "Caramel, we have to go. If you don't go out right now I will buck this door down and personally drag you down to the farm" she said franticly. This looked serious than Caramel told me.
"Coming!" he unlocked the door and walked out of it. "Don't dissapoint me" he waved goodbye with a playful grin and closed the door behind him.
So I stayed there alone, waiting to see if a miracle would bring Caramel back. What was I gonna do now?. There was no way I was going to go there alone. I gaze at the clock once more, 7:20. Ok, I had 40 minutes to think about something and get rid off of this mess. After a couple of minutes I decided therewas no point trying to avoid the inevitable. When the clock said it was 7:30 I made up my mind and went out of the house, I could use a quick fly before the party.
Going out the house and making sure the door was properly locked I took off without a clear destiny on my mind. I soared high enough so I could see the whole area. A few blocks away from the house was the Sugarcube Corner, so time wasn't something that would make me worry if I got late.
Taking some clouds, I shaped them into a small sofa and laid on it. The sun had already settled on the horizon, it was a beautiful sight. I looked down and saw a few ponies walking to Pinkie's store. How was even possible that she could do a party and get guests in so little time. I wasn't sure how to react when I got there and the worst thing I could think of right now is to give a bad first impression to the town I just arrived, but anyway, I think most of them knew me after my episode in the station.
I sigh getting up from my improvised bed, the cold breeze flew through my coat, cooling it down, this was what I was looking for, what there wasn't in Manehathan, a place to just sit down and watch the twilight, letting the brezze wash you over, relaxing you, no rushes, no worries, even if it was for just a few minutes. This was what I really enjoyed.
Once again I look down, closing my eyes and, without thinking it, letting myself fall foward from the cloud. I can feel the air hitting my face. After a few seconds of freefall, I open my wings and eyes at the same time and start flapping them losing speed before I get dangeroursly close to hit the ground. Honestly, a couple of months ago I wouldn't have care about that, but now I had plans, I wasn't going to give up... I will not give him that satisfaction.
With each second that passed I was getting closer and closer to the store... Ok, just say hi, smile and everything will be ok... Whatever, let's finish with this
Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself to get into the colorful store. Before I took two steps inside it, Pinkie jumped in front of me and screamed right on my face. "HAPPY WELCOMING!" with a chorus of voices, making me jump backwards and falling down the few stairs of the entrance. I landed on my back, impressed for the explosive welcome they gave me.
I stayed a few seconds laid there before I give my brain the order to move and get up, wondering if it was a good idea instead of staying there. While I was thinking this, a couple of ponies approched quickly, their faces full of concern. The first one that arrive was Pinkie with another lavender unicorn. "Oh Celestia, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" she asked reaching a hoof to me. "I never thought something like that could happen". She looked like she was really worried about what had happened.
"Don't worry, it happens to me all the time" I said trying to settle her down, after all she made a party for the guy she had just met. "It was just an accident" I said with a kind smile. "And, of course, my undeniable clumsyness" mumbled to myself.
"Here, let me help you" the unicorn speaked as her horn glow and an aura formed around my hair, making it look normal again.
"Thanks" I murmured looking at my hooves. "Gee, where are my manners. I'm sorry... I-I'm Thunder Luck" I greeted offering a hoof.
After a couple of giggles she accepted the salute. "Twilight Sparkle, and don't worry about it. When I first got there this crazy one here did something similar with me" she smiled friendly, were all the ponies like this?
After a couple of seconds, I analized the name which sounded really familiar, that name was... "It's you!" I snapped, realizing who she was. "You are that remarkable student of Celestia. The one that took Ponyville University to the top. Gosh if it wasn't for you I may not even considered about coming here. It's a real pleasure to meet you"
"Oh, heh, thanks. I-I feel flattered" she blushed slightly.
"Welp, enough of talking, we have a whole party ahead!" Pinkie said, taking both by the shoulders and dragging us inside the colorful party.
"Pinkie, we'll have a lot of time for-WOW!" The unicorn protested before she had the opportunity to get free from Pinkie's embrace. I just let myself get dragged, since I had no other option, what was the point of fighting back, right? I mean, this can be fun after all.
Pinkie left us free once inside and told me to enjoy my "welcome". I thanked her and scanned the local with my eyes. There was a good amount of ponies, talking, sharing a drink or eating a cupcake. I walked up to one of the tables to get something and kill the time, since walking away wasn't an option right now, I better enjoy some good drink. I grabbed one of the glasses that has some wierd pink punch on it. With just closing up the glass to my nose I felt a bit dizzy, but ignoring my common sense, I dared to take a good sip. At first I could feel the burning of the alcohol on my mouth and going down my throat as in my face formed a grimace, though after a while the burning dissappeared and was replaced by the nice and strong flavor that sent a shiver down my spine. Letting out a sigh, I grabbed a seat on one of the empty tables and played idly with my glass.
"It's a bit early for starting with something that strong, isn't it?" I heard the voice of the mare behind me, it wasn't Pinkie for sure, nor a voice that I had heard before. I turned around, looking over my shoulder to see who it was, and there she was standing, a yellow coated pegasus mare with a clear blue mane and and a earpiercing on her left ear. 'It's your party after all, go and enjoy it' I heard Caramel's voice on the back of my head.
"Early, late... The time almost is meaningless for me" I replied with a slight tone of indifference. "Even when it's something I need to take care of"
"Wow, careful, we've got a deep one here" she laughed while she sat on the free seat on my side, I just kept playing with my glass, considerating if it was a good idea to keep this up, I looked at her and found a couple of blue eyes locked on mine. "Hey now sad face, cheer up, you're supposed to have fun in parties, specially if you are the guest of honor" she gave me a playful nudge.
"Soft Floor, by the way" she said with a friendly smile, offering a hoof. I sighed, accepting the greet.
"Thunder Luck" shaking the hoof and the letting mine slipping from hers. She was about to ask something but I interrupted he. "Yes, I am new in town, if you were going to ask"
"Well that's kinda obvious, since our pink friend here is giving you a Welcoming party" she teased, putting emphasis on the word 'welcoming'. "In fact I was going to ask you what brings you to a town like this. I heard that you came from Manehathan"
"W-Who told you that?"
"Things spread faster than you can imagine here" I sighed heavily. "And I also heard about your 'accident'" she said giggling. Great... So, probably most of the town, if it wasn't the whole, was talking about my wierd arriving to the train station.
I grumbled in reply, drinking another sip of Pinkie's special punch. "What does she put on this thing?" I asked making another grimace.
"Nopony knows, that's the fun" she said happily, I notice she was drinking something different though. "I'll stick to something softer for a while. Even for me it's too early to get drunk"
I stared at the pink colored drink, the consequences of last times came up to my mind, but with an impulse, I repressed them by swallowing what was left on my glass. "I guess I'll take the risk"
"It's your call" she said eating a cupcake. "So, you never actually answered my question..."
"Hit me" I replied as I recovered from the strong drink.
"What brings you to Ponyville?" she asked with curiousity.
I chose carefully my words, sighing once more I speaked again. "I kinda needed a ,uhm, new place to began. I was sick of the city life. But also I'm gonna start university here"
"Oh nice, another fresh one" she looked pretty excited for what she just discovered. "I'm starting this year too, and I'm gonna guess you are getting into Ponyville university too... Of course you are, I mean, duh, it's like the only one close to here" she laughed to her own joke and manage to get my smiling.
"Oh c'mon, change that face and have a little fun" she said giving me a nudge. This time she managed to get a little laugh from me. "See? It isn't that hard now, is it?"
"Haha, okay okay, I get it" I said smiling, actually enjoying the company. "I'm sorry for being like that, where I came from things aren't that kind of... well kindness. The leyend says that I used to be nice at some point too"
We both laugh for a good while. When we recovered I saw our hostessget on the little scenario that was set for the ocassion.
was still impressed how quickly and creative that mare could be to set this kind of events. "Atenttion folks!" eventually all the
guests stayed silent and waited for whatever the pink mare was about to say. All the lights were shutted down expect for the one on the scenario where Pinkie was standing. "Now that we have a moment, let's give a warm welcome to our new neighbor and friend of Ponyville, Thunder Luck" The light started setting on me as I froze where I was sitting, feeling the eyes setting on me as well and almost inmediantly recieving a bunch of greets and "hope you got a good stay here". I waved
my hoof shyly, greeting back.
"C'mon, go up there and say something" Soft speaked aloud.
"W-What?" I snapped defensively. "Oh no, there's no way I'm..."
"Yeah say something" "Come on, don't be shy, get up there" a couple of couraging voices called around me. Realizing I didn't have much choice, I prepared my best smile and walked towards the little platform. The music had already stopped, I walked the little stairs up, thinking about kill Caramel or Soft first. Dozens, if it weren't hundreths, of eyes were set on me, I feel a cold drop of sweat ran down my neck. I cleared my throat and prepared myself for the little and very improvised speech.
"God, well. First of all I want to thanks you all guys for giving me such a nice welcome, specially to our host, Pinkie, who bother herself to organize all this" I stopped for a few moments while the the guests said their ovations and greets to Pinkie. "It's awfully nice from her, from all of you. And... Gosh I don't know what else to say, thanks everypony, you guys are awesome"
I stopped my tracks suddenly when I caught a pair of green eyes on me at the end of the hall. Standing by the front door, with that smile of his, the same one he had on the station. My head started to play tricks on me again, in the worst moment possible, filling itself up with loud yells and acussations. I wasn't sure how much I stare back, but it felt long enough to make the whole situation awkward. Mumbles start filling the whole place. "T-Thank you a-all" I murmured loud enough before walking down the stairs. Gazing for last time to the exit, there he still was, with a concerned look on his eyes.
"Well, there you have it. Now how about if we turn on this party!!" she said cheerfully, saving me for the awkwardness, making a sign to the DJ, a unicorn with sunglasses started playing the music back. I came back to my respective seat at Soft's side, who was looking at me with a baffled face.
"What in the hell was that?" she asked exasperated.
"Just forget about it" I said as I drink from another glass I get in my way there. The unpleasent sensation of the first drink had already dissappeared, feeling used to the alcohol, I let it go down through my throat.
"Uh oh, I sense a slight tone of rough past there" she said looking sincerely concerned. "Wanna get it outta your mind?"
"Why? I just met you and I barely know you" said a bit roughly, looking away.
"Do you know somepony else in this town apart of me and Pinkie?"
"Sure, my cousin Caramel, who was the whole reason I came here tonight and Cloud Str..." I stopped my tracks, realizing the mistake I just did as I begged internally hopping that she didn't caught that.
"Cloud-what now?" Dammit.
"Some guy I met at the train station... But what's your point?"
"°sigh° I'm just saying you always could use a shoulder where you can rely on" Soft declared sincerely. "I know I might be pushy and annoying most of the times but, you know... Despite all of that, I still have a sensitive side, as impossible as that sound"
"I-I'm okay, really" I lied sighing as well. " It's just..." I tried to think in some way to reply but nothing came to me. My mind was to agitated.
"It's just...?" she repeated in the same tone. I stayed in silence looking away, bitting my lower lip. "Okay, I get it, you don't wanna tell me"
"No, it's not... it's not about you, I'm just..." I quickly said defensively before she interrupted me once more.
"Hah, hey, I'm just screwing with you, it's okay if you're not ready to get it out of your chest" she laughed with a honest smile. "I just wanna let you know that if you need someone to talk or relieve something from your mind, ugh, I don't wanna sound cliché cuz that totally uncool... but, I'll be there" she said rubbing my back.
My eyes kept staring the glass once again, but I finally relaxed and gave her a warm gaze. "Thank you, honestly... I know I can be a featherbrain sometimes, it's just that I've never been used to this kind of... well kindness, even less after what happened with..." I couldn't believe I was actually considerating about relying in somepony I just met, but, just as before, I drank what was left on my glass and did the inevitable. "It's, uh, kinda of a long story..." I said hestitant.
"Well, the night is young... Take your time" she took one of the snacks Pinkie had made for the ocassion on her mouth.
"Let me get something to drink first" said standing from my seat, if I was going to talk about that I needed something to loosen up. The spot where I had been grabbing the strong nectar had already run out of it when I got there. I take a look around me and with the sight catch another couple of glasses left at the other side of the room. I made my way there, going through the mass of ponies dancing on the dancefloor, the music had everypony on the their hooves. Honestly, I couldn't complain about the music, after all back in Manehathan I spent most of the day with some headphones attached to my ears. Music was like... my escape from reality, I could let my feelings flow through it, it was like one of my "little addictions" that I had.
When I finally made it through the dancing mass, I checked myself to see if I was still in one piece and kept walking, but something had stopped me after I could get to the table, the same one where was standing a dark blue pegasus, taking the last glass on his hoof. I thought about turn around and come back with Soft, but those plans where not an option when those big green eyes found mine.
"Hey Thunder" a wide smile formed on Cloud's face as he greeted me, he seemed to be more excited than I expect after what happened with my little (and awkward) speech. Unsteady, I lifted a hoof greeting back and walked at his side, trying to keep my pace normal.
"H-Hi Cloud" I said with a suppressed nervous laugh. "I-I didn't expect t-to see you here"
"Why's that?" he asked with a false confused face. "I wasn't gonna lose the welcoming party that my boss prepared for the new neighbor" he ended playfully.
"Oh, right... I forgot you work for Pinkie"
"It's just a part time work, just to keep myself after I start the university year again... Plus you owe me for after I saved your flanks with those documents"
"Heh, yeah, thanks again by the way" Keep it cool, Thunder, stay calmed. "Uhh, d-do you know where I could get one of those?" I asked pointing at his glass.
"Umm, I don't think so" he replied looking around. "I know Pinkie is making more right now so here. I didn't even touch it" he offered me his drink.
"Oh, n-no, it's not necessary" I rejected the glass with a juttery giggle. "R-Really, I mean, it's n-not like I care about d-drinking
rom o-other's glass or anything, b-besides you had it first a-and I already had a couple of those and..." my voice slowly faded away with every word. He kept staring at me curiously for a couple of seconds, which of course, they feel like a couple of hours for me, but at the end, he broke the tension with a genuine laugh as I hide my face by looking away in a poor attempt of supress the forming blush on my face. 'Great job making a fool of yourself, Thunder' the back of my mind shot.
"C'mon dude, relax" he said as he gave me the glass. "Parties are for loosen up, have fun, not to be all strained"
"You know, I've already heard that already tonight" I said rubbing my neck.
"Then you should listen"
"Yeah, maybe... T-Thanks for the drink" I felt kinda bad for literally taking his drink, I looked around, picked up a clean glass from the table and pour half of the punch on it, offering it to the black maned pegasus in front of me. "Here, this way I won't feel that bad"
"Do you really make all things that complicated or just when you are nervous?" he asked grinning, accepting the drink.
"What? Who says I'm nervous?" I shot back in a poor firm tone.
"Your expressions, your shuffling hooves, your talking..." his smile grew even more and turned into a playful laugh. "Do you want me to continue?"
I opened my mouth, willing to give him a proper answer, but nothing came out of it and close it before I looked like an idiot. "Seriously, you need to relax, dude. Otherwise you won't be able to get along with new folks here."
"I-I know... I guess I'm stilll a bit shaky after the startling welcome when I arrived here" I lied rubbing my neck again with my free hoof.
"Yeah, I saw that... At least you didn't hurt yourself"
"Dunno, I'm kinda used to that kind of things anyways" I said letting out a sigh, a longing and sad smile appeared on my face.
"Say what now?" he asked, looking concerned.
"Doesn't matter" shooking my head. "Uh, I don't wanna be rude or anything, but I left my friend waiting for me"
"Oh, don't worry, I-I understand" he said agreeing with his head slowly, it was the first time I saw him unsecure. "Well, it was a pleasure to see you" his common smile quickly came back to his face.
"S-Same here" hiding my face a bit with my mane. Before I could turn around and go back with Soft, Cloud spoke again.
"We could... meet one of these days and help you with that room in the campus" he suggested.
"I..." I mentally spread my options and, as always, I picked up the avoiding one." It's not necessary, I-I don't wanna bother you"
"How can I be bothered by help a friend searching a place to stay?" he said half laughing. "What do you say about Friday at 2 pm?"
"I... I dunno"
"Do you have something for that day?" he asked, slightly leaning foward.
"Well, not for now, but..."
"Cool, then it'll be on Friday, after looking for your room I can give you a tour of the city too"
I don't know what got into me, but I just replied. "S-Sure... Why not?"
"Great, then Friday at 2, well meet here since is like one of few place that you know" his teeths shone in the dark local.
"Sure, that sounds great" I mumbled as inwillingly a smile appeared on my face.
"See you later" he said before turning around and walking through the dancefloor, away from my sight.
I stood there, still staring in the last direction he had gone, just like the first time at the train station, trying to figure out what had just happened.
Friday... both of us... campus' room... alone... give me a tour.
What did I just agreed with?!