//------------------------------//
// Friendship is Magic: Meeting Unicorns 
// Story: Adventures of the Element of Hope 
// by Zoom zoom 
//------------------------------//

	The purple unicorn who's chariot I had landed in was quite cute after I got a good look at her.  After setting everything straight, I learned she was supposed to go to a town called Ponyville to make sure everything in town was going as needed for THE princess Celestia herself to arrive.

That of course had me a little nervous considering my past, but she didn't seem to catch on I was lying and better yet her companion was almost ecstatic at the idea of befriending me.  Made more so after I played off being a traveler and telling him a few taller versions of my travels minus the thievery.

After he stopped praising me once he found out I was fine I said, "Look kid, I'm not that awesome.  I sometimes have a bit of an issue with thinking before I do something.  Not sure how a safety measure slipped my mind, but I don't think I need to tell you it is wrong to follow my example.  Even zip lining is safer than that."

“What’s zip lining?” the little dragon asked curious.

Honestly I didn’t know, it was just one of those things I read about in prison on a list of extreme sports.  I really didn’t have enough down time to actually have fun since I got out so I never had a chance to actually know if a pony could do it, let alone what it was.  Luckily I could play it off.  “I don’t think you should know just yet, kinda for the big ponies and all.  Now if you want something that is good for your-“

"Stop giving Spike ideas," the unicorn injected.  That look of a protective mare over her child came out at me.  The message was pretty clear so I shut my yap.

Spike looked between the two of us clearly getting Twilight’s face wrong and stated, "Hey I'm not so little.  But look at you Twilight, already making your first Ponyville friend."

At this the unicorn seemed to flush.  "I can't be friends with him!"

That got me a tad cross, "and why not?  Even if you never see me again it is sort of rude don't you think?"

"Oh no," Twilight exclaimed, "I'm so sorry, I wasn't thinking I guess.  Sorry if I offended you, but I've no time to be making friends with danger coming."

I started to ask what she meant by that, but the sound of the chariot coming to a halt stopped me.  Before long we were all asked to exit and Twilight was thanking the guards for the ride.  I of course kept my tattoo out of sight to keep them from noticing me.

"Sorry again Wishful," said Twilight returning her attention to me.  "But I think it is time we parted ways."

She was right of course.  I had no reason to stay near and no reason to ask beyond mild curiosity about that danger.  If she didn't feel like sharing than I didn't need to know, something I picked up back at my old "home".  So I nodded and shook her hoof as the dragon got out a few bags.

It was then I heard the gasp.  I couldn't exactly see what it was but a pink streak seemed to wiz off into the distance.  "What was that?"

"I don't know," Twilight admitted.  "That pink mare just saw us and then dashed off without a word."  She got over the confusion quick and started moving, "Come on Spike, the faster we get done, the faster we can research."

Groaning, Spike took the bags with him but seemed to have trouble.  So I decided to take them off his claws.  "I can at least drop these off for you in return for helping me out dude.  Where are these headed?"

At this, Spikes eyes brightened.  "Oh thanks so much.  They go to the Ponyville Library.  But be careful.  I'm still waiting for my new Fire Ruby to be ripe and it could break if you're too rough with it.  I couldn’t leave it at home because somepony might steal it while we’re here, but I can trust you."

Did he just say Fire Ruby?  As in, one of the rarest and most valuable gems in the world?  That at least proved he was working in royalty if he could afford that.  I bet I could be set for two years if I find the right buyer and-wait no.  What was I thinking?  Taking something I didn't need from a little kid?  That's too low.

"Sure thing," I agreed.  "And good day man.  Till we meet again."

The dragon jogged of to catch up with his mother as I suddenly realized I had no idea where the Library even was.  They were both long gone before I could call out to them.  Well, I might as well start looking.  I’d get to meet new ponies anyway.  Thing was I didn’t really like this persona, maybe some small compromise between myself and that filly Twilight would work better?  If nothing else it will be interesting to practice my imitation skills, something that while I was able to use wasn’t exactly rewarding range wise in prison.  

There is a reason griffin stereotypes were so well known all over the world, most of them you could swear were all either brutes or cons than came off way to obviously slimly.  It was why I was so useful, not too many griffins were skilled in the acting department which is actually needed a lot when it comes to criminal activity.  Thus they more readily like using ponies such as myself and helping me refine my art.

The only issue was that instinctively ponies are prone to trusting others they are comfortable around.  I’m still not used to having so many of my own kind, so a town like this where as I noticed only had one mule and as a result maybe one donkey was unsettling to me.  

Luckily I didn’t have to think about it too much as something small and as orange as myself seemed to zip in front of me.  Shortly after I heard a rather distinct cry, “I’ll get you for that you stupid cooter.”

The little white filly seemed to be going in the same direction as the blur had gone, so of course she gave up by the time she was in front of me since she was out of breath.  Her coat was covered in mud and a look of pure hostility rang true in her little face which despite the look came off to me as more cute.  

Normally I wouldn’t bother which such things as I’m sure most of you would, but something struck me about how Twilight would have reacted.  Despite being very on mission, she would be curious about things until they were explained as I had on the chariot.  Thus it fell to my new self to actually find out what was going on.

“What was that about?” I asked in my closest clone of Spike’s voice.  I’m no voice manipulator though so I didn’t sound completely different, but it wasn’t like this filly had met the dragon yet to notice the oddity of my tone, to her I just sounded my age instead of my usual deep voice that made me sound a good twenty years older than most.

“That,” the filly seemed to tense up even more as she shouted out again, “THAT stupid idiot just ruined my mane!”

“Okay hold on kid,” I said picking her up.  She took a bit but once she stopped squirming I released her so she could stomp around and kick the dirt before finally settling down and starting to cry.  It didn’t really seem like a concern until it turned into a massive flood that cleaned some of the mud on her face.  It took a bit of looking in Spike’s bag but I did find a handkerchief and started to wipe her face.  “We’d better get you cleaned up.”

It didn’t take too long to wash off all the mud with a nearby hose, but it did leave a still rather upset filly.  Sweetie Belle, as she eventually told me, had apparently looked really good for this big event.  Given that the Princess herself was supposed to visit I could see why she wanted to look her best.

Sweetie Belle sniffed as she looked at her wet mane in the window.  “Rarity will kill me if she sees me like this!  She spent so much time making my mane look perfect.  I can’t see her like this.  And it isn’t like I can get past her to get the shampoo she used either.”  She was looking like she was actually afraid of prospect of this Rarity finding out about her little mud trip.

I couldn’t just leave this girl to cry though to when the idea came to mind I began using my magic on her shadow.  Instantly it started trotting around her enough for her to notice and I changed my own into the best looking version of a generic filly streaking past.  Sweetie’s shadow clothesline the filly shadow and jumped up and down in victory.  At this the real Sweetie giggled.

“Yeah I guess that isn’t something I’d want to do,” she finally said embarrassed.  Well at least it was a positive reaction of some sort.  I’d have gone with that fact it was a good idea but then again I’m not an innocent kid anymore.  However that did give me an idea since it was so easy to catch her eye.

“Tell ya what Sweetie,” I stated in a low tone and motioning her to come closer.  I whispered into her ear, “I’ll help you get that shampoo.  Just tell me where it is and I’m all in.”

“But Rarity only keeps it with her at all times,” Sweetie argued.  “She doesn’t even leave it home because it is so expensive and she’s afraid of thieves.”

“Well just drop it into my bag after you’re done at the library.  I’ll put it back in her pack before she even notices.  Now then, where is she?”





The place looked fantastic.  I'm not kidding, in my travels I have seen many places considered to look good but this was the first time I actively found a place attractive in a sense.  This was of course helped by the hot little number doing the decorating.

Fur as white as snow, long unblemished legs and make-up applied enough to notice but not to the point most at least would say was too much.  Everything about this woman showed beauty.  Boy was I glad the saddle bags I'd taken from Spike were covering for me.

I stood there in stunned silence for some time before the beauty finally noticed me.  "My apologies, I did not see you there.  I am Rariry, and who might you be?"

That shook me out of my daze.  I took a look around myself and found that Sweetie Belle jumping into a large bag set in a corner or something.  Can’t exactly focus when you’re supposed to keep your audience’s attention can I?

So I bowed deeply saying to the lovely mare, “The name is Wish.  I specialize is making dreams come true.  And I can tell miss that you could use a nice dream at the moment.”  Okay I wasn’t exactly sure what I was saying.  For all I know this girl already had somepony.  Still her attention was I me and that was enough as I noticed Sweetie start to run off.  Mission Accomplished.

“Oh my,” Rarity replied sounding flustered and with slightly pink cheeks.  “I’m am flattered dear sir but we barely know each other.  I couldn’t possibly…”

“Another time then,” I cut her off.  “But I did have a purpose to entering before I was distracted by your captivating beauty.  I’m to deliver these saddlebags to the town library.  Would you please point min in that direction?”

"Oh, then just follow the main road outside and that the second left path offered you.  It's a giant tree so you can't miss it.”  She said this rather fast and then suddenly gain focus as she shook her head.  “Was there anything else?  I really must be getting back to making preparations."

"No miss," I said stating to trot out, “and thank you.”  With my act complete I gave a look around but saw no signs of the filly.  Though honestly I couldn't really see Rariry being too scared of her own sister, but then again I really didn't have a family of my own so I couldn't tell.

As I thought about that fact the image of a pale blue unicorn rose in my mind and I wiped it away.  No, that foal is not my family…not anymore.  Well stiff upper lip and all that, time to go to the library.