//------------------------------// // Newcomer // Story: The Forgotten Exile // by Echo 27 //------------------------------// There was a series of knocks at the door of the library, loud and sharp throughout the hollow of the great tree. However, the great sound did nothing to tear away the lavender mare who was completely engrossed in her studies. Her name was Twilight Sparkle, resident librarian of Ponyville. She had been a denizen of this library for several years now, years that had changed her life in innumerable ways. Even from the very first day, everything had changed. She had gone from being an overzealous and (even if she only admitted it to herself) rather rude bookworm to a hero of Equestria, gaining the most wonderful group of friends in the process. Across the years, she had learned new lessons, furthered her studies, deepened bonds, and saved her homeland more than once. The last upheaval of her life had been the greatest, going from a mere student to an alicorn, a Princess of Equestria. Thankfully, her changes had done nothing to hinder her daily habits, something she would have missed. It had helped ease her transition, make it more comfortable and smooth. Even if she was now a ruler, she was still glad she could curl up and read a good book every now and then. However, her faithful assistant was, at the moment, frustrated by her enthusiasm. The young dragon’s name was Spike, a purple dragon with green spines from head to tailtip. He had been her friend and companion quite literally since the day of his birth. He was her friend and confidante, as well as a deep moral support. He was also her assistant, and his duty now required him to be a nuisance. The knocking on the door had not ceased, and he had been given explicit instructions to notify her immediately. “Twilight, someone’s at the door.” Nothing. Twilight merely flipped the page, a contented smile on her face. “Twilight!” He barked. “Hey, Twilight! Someone’s at the door, and you told me to tell you if someone came, so did.” Still nothing. “Twilight, you’re not even listening, are you?” As he was again snubbed, Spike felt a sense of frustration. No creature enjoys being snubbed, and the young dragon was no exception. With a gusty sigh, he said, “Alright, Twilight, you asked for it.” He took a deep breath, crept closer until he was right beside her, and whistled out a small flame. The fire flashed in front of the purple unicorn and singed the edges of her book, interrupting her joyous reverie and shocking her into reality. “Aah!” she yelled, instantly snapping the book shut and tossing it away from the small trail of fire. “Spike, what in the-” “Someone’s at the door, Twilight,” Spike said with a satisfied smirk on his face. Twilight instantly leapt to her feet and dashed downstairs, not slowing down in time to avoid a small collision with the door. Most unfortunately for her, the lock on the door did not hold and the door swung open, allowing Twilight to spill out most unceremoniously on the blonde-maned mailmare that stood at the doorframe. The two landed a few feet back in a tussle, leaving Twilight extremely embarrassed and the mailmare extremely confused. “What happened?” said the young mailmare. “Did I trip?” “No, that was my fault,” Twilight said apologetically, rising to her feet and using her magic to right the young mare she had bowled over. “I’m sorry, Derpy, I was going a bit too fast.” “It’s no problem,” Derpy replied sweetly, her face brightening with a smile. “I’ve got a priority letter from Canterlot here for you. Just came in this morning.” “Thanks a lot, Derpy,” said Twilight, taking the letter Derpy had just withdrawn from her bags. “And here, have a muffin. Are you alright?” “No sweat, Twilight,” Derpy said. “I’m indestructible. And thanks for the muffin! Well, bye!” Twilight waited politely for the cross-eyed mare to depart before she ran back inside, eagerly opening the letter as fast as she could. “Spike, Princess Celestia finally wrote me back!” she yelled up the stairs. The purple drake stared at the letter, a touch of resentment in his eyes. “Don’t know why you needed to use mail delivery, I do it way faster.” “I know you do, Spike,” Twilight said kindly, “but this needed to be more official and all due to the request. Trust me, I don’t want to make a habit of it.” Spike, looking mollified and more cheerful, peered over Twilight’s shoulder. “So what’s it say?” he asked. Twilight began to read her letter aloud. “Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,” she began. “I, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and the board of governors have discussed your suggestion for an ‘Official Equestrian Convention’, the goal of which is to ‘foster relations between ponies in celebration and the sharing of knowledge.’ We are happy to inform you that your appeal has been approved, and we grant you the requested funds to support your initiative. The Royal Sisters, Princesses Celestia and Luna, have also gladly agreed to partake in the opening ceremonies, as per your request.” Twilight gave a yelp of glee and hopped around the room in celebration, dropping the letter without even reading the rest of its contents. “It’s gonna happen, Spike! They accepted it, they accepted it!” “Of course they did, you always have good ideas,” Spike said, smiling all the same. “Was putting a spell on Smarty-Pants a good idea?” Twilight asked, an embarrassed laugh escaping her lips. “Well, mostly good ideas,” Spike replied. Twilight giggled. “Alright, Spike, it’s time to get to work! Let’s start the checklist!” Two weeks later… Twilight heard a knock at the door, approaching at a more cautious speed than a few weeks before. It wouldn’t do to run anyone over in any situation, especially being a princess. Opening the door, she was pleased to see Applejack, the very mare she wanted to see. “The supplies came in?” Twilight asked expectantly. “Yup, just arrived this morning,” Applejack answered cheerfully. “You ready to go?” “Ready as I’ll ever be,” Twilight said. She turned and called over her shoulder, “Spike, I’m going out to the fairgrounds. Enjoy your day off!” “That’s the plan,” came the distant reply. And with that, the two friends were off towards the fairgrounds, taking a leisurely pace in an attempt to enjoy the sunshine. “It’s a beautiful day,” Twilight said as she looked around. “Sure is,” Applejack agreed. “Rainbow Dash was actually up early today, and looks like she did a good job.” “Did she say why she wouldn’t be joining us?” Twilight asked. “Something to do up in Cloudsdale, ah think,” said Applejack. “But she’s been awful busy lately, so ah haven’t heard much from her.” Twilight nodded. “At least Pinkie Pie is going to help. We’ll need whatever extra hooves we can get.” “Ah can’t wait for the big party,” Applejack remarked. “It’ll be great for Sweet Apple Acres to have all these incoming ponies who’ve never had our goods. Plenty of chances to make a great sale.” “Thanks for all the help, too,” Twilight said. Applejack shrugged. “It’s nothing, Twi. What else would I do? Not help?” The two friends shared a laugh as they walked through the town of Ponyville. Soon, their talk was reduced to simple chatter of friends, their daily lives, and the lives of those around them. When they reached the fairgrounds just outside of town, they found piles on piles of wood poles and canvases strewn across the ground. “Delivery services aren’t exactly neat and tidy, are they?” Twilight remarked, looking somewhat frustrated. “Wait, where’s Pinkie Pie?” Applejack asked, looking around. “Wasn’t she supposed tuh meet us here?” As if on cue, the pink party pony dashed up to Twilight and wrapped her friend in a bone-crushing hug, and immediately preceding to do the same to Applejack. “Hi, Twilight! Hi, Applejack! This place sure is a mess, huh?” “Hi, Pinkie,” gasped Twilight, trying to regain her breath. “You ready to get started?” “You bet!” said Pinkie brightly. “Where should I start?” The three mares set straight to work raising the tents, where, in two days’ time, hundreds of ponies from all across Equestria would come and gather in a celebration of each other, and the knowledge they share. Twilight had thought of the idea not long after a quiet visit to her brother and his wife up in the Crystal Empire. She had seen the amazing technology the Empire had been creating under Cadence’s rule, and had wished that plenty of other ponies could achieve the same goals. With that thought in her head, she had suddenly proposed something: a chance for ponies to come together and show what they could do, giving Earth ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns the chance to showcase what they could create. At the moment, however, the tents that ponies would use needed to be erected, and it was up to Twilight and her friends to do just that. As both Rarity and Fluttershy would be setting up their own booths, the two were absent, as they had to be preparing themselves. Applejack grunted with frustration as she tugged at a rope, trying to bring up one of the larger, heavier tent poles. “Darn stick,” she said angrily. “Get up there, darn you.” “Be careful, Applejack,” Twilight warned. “You’re pulling too hard, the pole will-” And in that instant, Twilight’s next word became a sound, as the circular beam bent and broke with a loud snap! “Watch out!” Twilight yelled, and the three ponies scattered to avoid the crashing beam. It fell with a clatter upon the pile of remaining tent poles, an earsplitting Crash! reverberating through the air. “Everypony OK?” Twilight asked, looking around. “Ah’m alright,” Applejack said, emerging from a nearby tent. “I’m here,” said Pinkie Pie, popping in somewhere behind Twilight. But just before Twilight opened her mouth to speak, a new voice cut through. “The hay was that about? Is everything alright?” Twilight turned around and saw a newcomer heading towards them, looking around in confusion. It was a rather tall stallion, much of his mane hidden under a deep blue bandana, a heavy-looking saddlebag thrown across his back. His coat was a handsome blue, fading into a sea-foam white at his hooves, his forefront hooves decorated with gold bracelets encrusted with a single sapphire. His tail was blue-white like the tide as he flicked it back and forth- “Uh, Twilight, you OK?” Applejack asked, jolting her out of her stupor. Twilight realized she had been staring for several moments. She shook her head, forced her cheeks from flushing, and walked towards the newcomer with a rather timid smile on her face. “G-good afternoon,” she stammered, “My name is Twilight Sparkle. Can I help you with anything?” The newcomer looked around calmly. “Sure you don’t need mine?” he asked, eyeing the broken tent pole. “Looks like you girls are having a spot of trouble.” “Rush job,” Twilight said, a faint laugh on her voice. “We’re trying to work fast as we can, so we might be, uh, moving a little fast.” The newcomer merely stared, his expression just as serenely blank as when he had arrived. “Alright. So, you gonna ask for my help or not?” He was abrupt, but he seemed to sense that Twilight was indeed angling for his help. “Uh, well, if you don’t mind,” she offered shyly. “What else have I got to do?” he asked, walking over to the pile of wood. “Tell me what I need to do and let’s get movin’.” “Oh, OK,” Twilight said breathily. “Umm, right now we’re just trying to raise some tents, if you can see that.” “I can see-” but he cut himself off as he caught sight of her wings. “You’re an alicorn?” he asked, his voice immediately wary. Twilight felt a ripple of uneasiness course through her, but quickly shook it off. There was no need for that! “Umm, yes, I am,” she said. “You a princess?” he asked, an edge rising in his tone. Twilight felt even more uneasy. “Yes,” she said softly. In an attempt to lighten the mood, she asked, “So, what’s your name?” The ocean-colored stallion looked at her in faint surprise. “You don’t know my name?” he asked. Now Twilight was simply confused. “No. Should I?” The stallion shrugged and finally smiled. “Never mind, then. I’m Ocean Blue. Pleasure to meet you, Your Princess-ship.” He stooped to bow, but Twilight protested, “Please don’t!” He looked up at her in confusion. “I’m not very… royal, I guess. You don’t need to bow.” Ocean looked even more confused, but his eyes spoke of being impressed. “Alright, then… uh…” “Just call me Twilight,” the lavender mare said with a wide, glowing smile. “Everyone does.” “Alright, Twilight,” he said pleasantly. “Pleased to meet ya, I guess. Now, what do I do?” The newcomer joined in with the others and set straight to work, raising the massive tents with apparent ease. Twilight paused to watch him for a moment as he raised another quite handily. He was extremely strong, stronger than any stallion Twilight had met save for maybe Big Mac, Applejack’s brother. “Twilight, you still here?” Applejack asked, again cutting through her thoughts. “I’m sorry, what?” Twilight asked, speaking very rapidly. “Are you alright, girl?” The farm mare asked gently, eyeing her. “Of course not!” Pinkie Pie interjected suddenly. “She’s been here for hours, she’s hungry! We need cupcakes, and we need ‘em STAT!” “I’m fine, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight laughed. “I’m just wondering…” “About him?” Applejack asked, a tinge of laughter in her voice. “Did he say where he was from?” Twilight shook her head. “No, I barely was able to get him to even say his name. He asked if I knew it already. Strange.” Applejack’s face was shadowed with thought. “Yeah, that’s strange.” “Still,” Twilight remarked rather brightly. “It was really kind of him to help us out.” Applejack merely nodded, still looking a little disconcerted. “Yeah, I guess.” “Hey, ladies!” Ocean Blue yelled, walking towards them from across the fairgrounds. “Just put up this last monster, we got any others that need lifting or was that it?” “No, that was all of it,” Applejack replied, her voice even. “We’ve got a stage platform coming in tomorrow, but that’ll be done by professional workhorses.” Ocean nodded. “Well, if that’s all the help you needed, I’d best be going.” Twilight felt a thrill of disappointment rush through her. “Wait! You have to leave?” Ocean turned and gazed at her. “Uh, yeah, I guess,” he said plainly. “I’m pretty much your typical drifter.” “Well, why not stick around for a bit?” Twilight suggested. “Besides, I- I mean we need to give you something for all your hard work. It was a big help, I thought we’d be here all night.” Ocean Blue looked rather embarrassed. “Look, you don’t have to do-” “YEAH!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bowling over the stallion and standing atop him. “After all, you’re new in town so that means you need to see everyone, and I need to throw you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville!’ party! You have not LIVED until you’ve had an official Pinkie Pie party!” “Um,” was all he could manage. “Pinkie!” Twilight chided gently, “Why don’t you let him stand up?” “Oh, sorry!” she said, bouncing off the blue drifter with an extra-wide smile. Twilight, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks, said, “So, why not come into town with us?” Ocean Blue gazed at Applejack’s uneasy expression, Pinkie Pie’s beaming face, and Twilight’s eagerness, and gave a great sigh. “Why the hay not?” he muttered. “Sure, as long as you’ve got something to eat. It’s been a couple days since my last meal and I’m wicked starvin’.”