//------------------------------//
// The Start of an Average Day 
// Story: A Change of Pace 
// by PandorasMusicBox 
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Manehatten. A fantastic city, if one doesn’t mind the hustle and bustle. As a veritable hub of activity for Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns alike, the Big Apple was quick to become the apple of Equestria’s eye – second only to Canterlot. Trade, theater, food, art; there isn’t a single thing that doesn’t thrive here, and everypony can find solace somewhere in the city limits, if they pardon the noise. But for all the ponies, or rather because of them, change comes slowly. With such a high population, niceties are cut and stripped to the bare bones on the crowded streets. Friendships are hard to make, and everypony stays focused on themselves, least they get lost and swept away in the streets. Solace, contentment, they’re easy to find – but change? Change comes slowly in Manehatten.

The sun breeched the top of the skyscrapers, light pouring through the windows of the lower buildings. In one particular apartment complex, in one particular glistening window, light struck just right to irritate the eyes of a particularly pony who was orange in both in name and color. The Earth Pony stood up wearily, recognizing that the day simply wouldn’t surrender its unyielding assault on her sleep. Grumbling, she wished she had blinds with which to combat nature, but alas, her apartment was devoid of such frivolous window draping. There was, however, a small torn piece of paper taped haphazardly, leaving a blotch of shadow on the wall.
Still quite groggy, the orange mare stretched, and trudged towards the beckoning note. She herself had left it, in a style befitting her lazy, unorganized self. Tilting her head sideways to match the askew angle in which it was posted, she stared at the paper until her eyes adjusted to the bright sun badgering her view.

To Clementine

I understand that we need our sleep. Believe me – it was a chore just to write this much out. But you can’t waste much time today. Remember, we were awfully close at identifying that new critter down at the Central Park Zoo. So, in short, get your plot in gear; our reputation as a zoologist and mythological cataloger are at stake, you know. There’s a lot riding on this. GO, GO, GO!

Sincerely yours (while, sincerely mine, anyways)  
The Past Clementine

The memory rushed to her head as she read her hastily scrawled out note. Briefly, she wondered why she wrote in such an expository fashion, before she realized she’d probably ignore anything that resembled a more mundane note. Besides, she always got a kick out of writing to the future. Now properly awake, if not properly enthusiastic, Clementine turned away from the window towards her apartment.

The mess she promptly confronted would have stunned a more organized mare. Papers, books, and supplies cluttered every possible space, and flooded the floor. To an outside observer, it would have been described as a ‘mess’. To Clementine, it was her mess, and she knew exactly just how to deftly maneuver it to the point where it almost seemed purposeful. Striding and hoping past her notes and studies, she looked at some of her previous works.

As a zoologist, she spent most of her time researching various animals, and determining their properties and societies. She was the one who determined the first cure to counteract the mildly painful toxin caused by an agitated star spider, and she was the one who discovered that borealis chameleons could actually communicate through changing skin color. Her most famous discovery was yet to come however. Recently, she had funded an expedition into the Everfree Forest, and although work kept her from partaking in the adventure herself, her financial participation enabled her to stake a prominent claim in being the first to study any findings the team brought back. And boy, did they bring something back! At first, Clementine wasn’t sure what to make of the creature they retrieved, but the studies began immediately, and she believed she was on the verge of something profoundly important to the entire field of magical zoology.

Throughout this period of self-reflection, Clementine wandered into her bathroom and had properly doled herself for the day. Her mane and tail were straight and tapered down, like she always preferred. Practicality and simplicity are easy ways to feign professionalism, and she was indeed a professional. Her apartment might be a mess, but she needed to appear proper if for no other reason than her reputation. Looking in the mirror, she sighed briefly. She would have loved to go on that expedition, especially given that she always loved field work. Clementine was happy to work with the results, but privately she would always probably be wistful to be on the team that discovered the creature. 

Trotting past the maelstrom of paper she lived in, Clementine danced to the apartment’s exit, where she prepared herself for the busy day of science ahead. She swung the door open, only to notice another note posted by somepony who must have stopped by her place. Studying the note, she noted that the handwriting was much more elegant than her own, and that she definitely recognized the carefully written font. Taking it off the door, she read it carefully.

To my darling Clem-Clem

I apologize dearly for not staying and greeting you in person, but I know how grouchy you get when anypony tries to wake you up. Anywho, I was simply going to remind you that the rest of the family are getting together later today for one of our city-famous dinner parties! Your brother Mandarin is hosting it as his lovely abode this time. Please, do stop by. I know you’re busy with work, but family is family after all – try not to forget to attend again. 

From you loving mother
Valencia Orange

Clementine sighed both at the fact that she had forgotten about her family’s dinner party, and that her mother still insisted on calling her “Clem-Clem”. That would limit her ability to work on her study, if she even got the time to put any significant effort into it. Of course, her mother was right: family is indeed family. 

Unfortunately, her talent, and her profession, meant she never really spent a lot of time with her folks and siblings. After all, the one thing that binds the Orange family is the Orange family business. Clementine was a black sheep, in that her talent had little to nothing to do with growing citrus fruits of any variety. Indeed, even her cutie mark had nothing to do with the concept – emblazoned on her rear was an ancient symbol of discovery known the world over. In proud display to the world lay her telescope cutie mark – not that she was attentive. Rather, as near as she could peg it down, her mark meant her talent was focusing on the task at hand. Sure, she was prone to zoning out, but once she got her mind going on something, oh Celestia, look out Equestria!

As Clementine stood there, she weighed her options. The dinner party would take up most – if not all – of her day. That being said, she reasoned it would be best just to step down to the zoo for an hour or so. Nobody at Mandarin’s would chastise her for being late (heck, just showing up would probably be good enough for her Mother), and although she wouldn't get much studying done she could at least get the ball in motion. A brief test or two, and she reckoned she could even sneak a bit of her work into the party. 
With a plan of action, Clementine set out of her apartment. The road ahead was familiar ground to her. Juggling family and work was something she was not a stranger too, though her success at it was a different matter. After all, sometimes a little failure goes a long way to force change.