Five minutes to Ponyville, The train’s loudspeaker announced, drawing me back to attention. I had been staring out the window at the trees that passed by. Covered in the green leaves of summer, the trees spanned across the entire landscape draped across a backdrop of mountains.
As the train neared Ponyville, I saw the town in the distance. Its buildings much smaller compared to the towering buildings of Manehattan. It had a more rural feel to it from a distance without the tall skyscrapers of my previous home. From what I could see, instead of metal and glass, the houses were made of wood and what looked like hay.
I got up from my seat, putting my saddlebags back on as the train pulled into the station and its doors opened up for its passengers to disembark. I followed the mass of ponies outside onto the platform.
I was greeted by the bright sunlight. Squinting my eyes, I trotted across the station passing through the crowds. I should probably head for the town center to see if there’s any housing I can take.
Setting off on my quest into town, I set off trotting from the station when I was promptly stopped by my stomach. Quickly glancing around, I noticed several ponies looking over at me. Laughing nervously, I stepped up the pace and went further into town for something to eat.
The entire town seemed to be much more relaxed than Manehattan had ever seemed. Instead of roads covered in ponies of all kinds, there were only several groups walking together. Ponyville was nicer than Manehattan and had a more tranquil feeling to it. The air even felt clearer than it was at home.
My eyes finally saw a food cart in the distance which I hastily cantered over to. The orange mare working the cart was calling out to ponies along the street trying to sell the apples she was selling.
“Come get some fresh apples from Sweet Apple Acres. Fresh picked this mornin’,” She called out until she saw me approach her cart.
“Good day. Would ya like ta buy some apples?” The mare running the stand asked, “Only one bit per apple!”
“Only one?!” I said in disbelief. Apples in Manehattan were usually several bits more. “Yes please.” I turned towards my saddlebags to fish out a bit to place on the stand. It was promptly replaced with an apple. As I picked it up in my magic, the orange pony spoke up.
“Say, are ya new in town? Ah don’t reckon Ah’ve seen ya before.”
I hesitated for a while. I never spoke with anypony more than necessary back home, but it wouldn't be wise to get myself a bad reputation in my new home. Mentally sighing, I responded, “Yeah. I just got off the train from Manehattan a few minutes ago.”
“Ah’ve been to the big city before,” She paused before speaking again. “Well, not Manehattan. Ah went ta live with mah Aunt and Uncle Orange up in Fillydelphia.”
Starting to feel uncomfortable, I trailed off, “That’s nice...”
“So what d’ya plan to do here in Ponyville,” She asked, with a faint spark of curiosity visible in her eyes.
Again, I paused, wondering why she wanted to know so much about me. Pushing my unwarranted concern aside to the back of my mind, I replied, “Well, I plan to find somewhere to live. I also plan to set up a stand to sell jewelry.”
The mare paused to think for a second until she said, “Well mah good friend Rarity sells gems over at her store, Carousel Boutique, on the other side of town. I’m sure if you told her that Ah sent ya, she’d certainly willing to set you up generously.” She paused another moment, a look of deep thought on her face. “As for housing,” She started, “Ah’m sure ya could take a peek over at town hall. They have a board there that has several notices about housing.”
My stomach took this time to remind me that it still needed to be fed, butting into our conversation with a fearsome growl. I blushed as the earth pony chuckled. “Well, Ah better leave ya to it then. See ya ‘round town!”
“Thank you for everything,” I said before rushing off to find a chair or bench for me to eat my apple. My eyes came across an empty bench, and smiled as I took a seat at it.
I pulled the apple I bought out of my saddlebags and take a bite into it. The apple truly was one of the best apples I've ever had before, easily topping those in Manehattan. It had a nice tart flavoring, yet was sweet at the same time with just the right amount of crunch to it. Just the way an apple should be. Must be something to do with being grown so close to its roots, I guessed, taking another bite and finishing off my lunch.
With my hunger satiated and ready to find this Carousel Boutique I set off towards my goal, or at least where I thought my goal was. Getting lost pretty fast, I settled for asking several ponies, much to my dislike, and got directions to the store.
Reaching it in several minutes, the building had a very… round shape to it. I don’t know what I was expecting there. Carousel is in the name. The building had a pink and gold trim to it giving it a feel of class.
As I walked through the door, a bell chimed to announce my entrance. In came a white unicorn mare with a styled mane that looked a bit like a spring. She looked towards me with a pleasant smile and greeted, “Hello. Welcome to Carousel Boutique. I have a major clearance sale going on right now if you’re interested.”
“No thank you,” I said, shaking my head. “I take it that you’re Rarity?” She nodded. “I was wondering if you had any gems for sale. A mare in the marketplace running an apple stand said that you did”
Rarity nodded, “You must be talking about Applejack. As for the gems...” She paused for second to think before she spoke up again. “I do have gems, but what kind of gems are you looking for? I have all kinds of them.”
“Well, I more or less need gems that have been cut and polished for use in jewelry.” I explained, “You see, my mother was a jeweler and taught me the tricks of the trade. I was hoping to follow in her hoofsteps.”
Rarity smiled at me. “I think I know just what you need…”
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An hour or so later, I had selected the jewels I needed to set myself up. Just as Rarity was ringing up my purchase, she spoke up, “Excuse me, miss…”
“Amethyst,” I replied.
“Miss Amethyst, I was wondering. Since you’re good with making jewelry, could you make one for a client of mine? I've been really busy lately and I’ll be willing to pay you well for it, as well as a fair share of what she pay’s me.”
I stood there, my face in shock, as I tried to comprehend what she just told me. “Wait. You've just met me, you don’t know how well I am with jewelry, and you’re willing to give a share plus a tip for this job? What’s in it for you?” I really was confused as to why this mare was giving me such a great opportunity for what seemed like nothing in return.
“Well, it is true that I don’t know how well you are with jewelry. However, I may have bit more than I could chew and have several long-term projects I need to get done soon,” Rarity explained. “My client comes here in three days and is looking for something simple. Besides, you've said you’re new in the business, right? You’ll be doing a big favor if you help me out.”
I sighed as I said, “So three days and something simple, right? Is a necklace fine?” She nodded. “Alright, I’ll do it for you.”
“Oh! Thank you, darling! Well let me finish this purchase for you. That’ll come up to one-hundred thirty two Bits.”
Sighing again, I levitated my Bit pouch out of my saddlebags and started counting out my coins.
“Well, thank you for your business and more importantly, the help with my job, darling. Have a nice day,” Rarity called as I walked out the door, the bell ringing.
I better follow that mare from the markets advice. Applejack I think her name was. Let’s see if town hall does have some notices for housing, I thought as I trotted towards it. Or at least to where I thought it was.
Several minutes of fruitless searching, I decided to ask somepony where town hall was, much to my dislike. It wasn't that I couldn't handle asking for help, it was just actually asking another pony. At least Ponyville ponies are nicer than the ones in Manehattan, I glumly thought to myself.
I kept trotting by myself, trying to see if I could help prevent myself from having to ask another pony for help. As I searched, I started thinking about what it was that I’d like to live in. Well I don’t think I have enough money to buy my own house for a while. Might as well not bother with that. I concluded, still searching for the hall with no luck. I suppose I could have a roommate, but… I trailed off in my thoughts.
It’s always an option. An apartment could work. I’d be alone, which would be nice. It dawned on me just then that through my short time wandering through Ponyville, I've found no buildings that actually looked like an apartment complex.
*Blam*
To busy in my musings about housing, I collided with another pony, crashing down to the street. “Oww,” I groaned, rubbing my head to try and relieve some of the pain.
“Sorry about that,” Said the other pony, a mare from the sound of it. I looked up at her. She was on the ground too, picking herself up. She was a cute cyan mare with a curly dark blue mane. “I should’ve watched where I was going. I got this new book from the library and couldn't put it down.”
I picked myself up to and trotted over to where my saddlebags had fallen off. “No problem. It’s more my fault than anything.” I levitated my saddlebags upright, picking up the rest of my belongings from the floor and putting them back inside before I strapped my bags back on.
I looked back to where the mare, a pegasus I could see now, was at. She picked her book up in her mouth and slipped it between her wing. “Nonsense. I’m still sorry though,” She said before moving to trot away from me.
Suddenly remembering what I was trying to do, I sighed and called out, “Hey, do you know where town hall is perchance?”
She glanced back towards me as she said, “Yeah. Just follow the road and take the third right. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you!” I said gratefully, “I’m sorry for bumping into you though.”
“No worries,” She replied, flashing me a smile as she continued trotting away from me. I did the same, following her directions towards the town hall.
I finally found it, a round building made of wood, with the standard Ponyville style I was getting used to. It was still unfamiliar, being used to Manehattan’s steel and glass, but I actually found it much more charming. The town hall had a look of distinguishment to it that separated it from the rest of the surrounding houses giving a feeling of authority to it.
I took a deep breath as I pushed open the doors and was greeted by a confident receptionist sitting at her desk, smiling as she shuffled around paperwork. “Welcome to town hall. What can I help you with?”
“I was told that you have a board regarding houses?” I asked her, as I trotted towards her desk.
“Yes, we do,” She said, smiling at me as she continued without breaking stride as she pointed behind me. “They’re on the far wall and all the information about them should be on there. When you choose something, you’ll need to run it by me first so that I can get the paperwork settled. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
I followed her directions, turning around and trotting over to the board. It was covered in flyers, all of them describing the land they offered in hopes of being picked. I scanned across it in hopes of an apartment. A feeling of disappointment crossed over me after my search was declared to be in vain.
Settling for my second choice, I browsed for a house with a roommate. At least it’d be cheaper than buying an actual house. A certain blue flyer caught my eye as I read it quietly to myself. “Two-story house. Moderate living quarters settled in residential Ponyville. Will split cost with roommate...” I continued reading as I thought to myself, This doesn't seem bad. Wonder what she’s like?
I grabbed the flyer in my magic and trotted back to the receptionist. “I think I found something,” I said to her, placing the flyer on the table.
“Okay, let me take a look,” She said, taking it into her hooves and reading it over. “Alright, seems normal. Well since you’re going to live with a roommate, there’s no paperwork that I need you to fill out. Lucky you,” She said, grinning. “The flyer gives you the address on it, so you should be able to find it. Just make sure that you sort it out with the owner. Have a good time in Ponyville.”
“Thanks,” I said to her before turning to trot out the door for the house mentioned on the flyer.
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An hour or so later, I finally came across the house with the help of a passing pony. Alright, I thought, taking a deep breath to calm myself down. You can do this, Amethyst.
I lifted my hoof up and knocked on the door. Nothing. Waiting a few more seconds, I raised my hoof again when the door suddenly opened making me jump. Standing in the doorway was the cyan mare from before.
“You again?” I said, startled.
“Oh, hey. It’s you,” She replied, invitingly. “Are you here regarding the flyer from town hall?”
I replied, “Yes,” as I pulled out the flyer that I had tucked into my saddlebags. “Are you still offering the room?”
“It’s still free. I take it you’re interested in it?” The mare asked before speaking up again, “Before I forget, my name’s Rain Bell.”
“Amethyst,” I said, “And yes. I am.”
“Well come inside then. I just made dinner, so we can talk about it over a meal. That sound good to you?” She asked, gesturing for me to enter the house. I stepped inside as she closed the door and led me towards the kitchen. “Take a seat and I’ll make you a plate. It’s a simple pasta with a lemon sauce. I hope it’s good enough for you.”
I did as she said, taking a seat at her small table and waited for her to finish serving me. She placed a plate in front of me and took a seat herself. “So all that we really need to go over if you’re going to live here is just the cost. I figure that a fifty fifty cost is fine so that’d leave you having to pay about two hundred bits every month. Is that fine with you?” She asked, taking a bit of her meal.
That was quite a lot considering that I didn't have a paycheck yet, but then again, I do have the job that Rarity gave me. I nodded, saying, “Sure. That’s fine with me.”
“Well, that settles that,” Rain Bell concluded. “So, Amethyst what do you do for a living?”
“I make jewelry,” I responded plainly, then adding as a second thought, “In fact, I got a commission from Rarity before I bumped into you. How about you?” I asked as I took a bite of my food.
“Well, nothing as fancy as you,” Rain Bell began, “I have a job with the weather patrol here in Ponyville. It’s not the best job out there, but at least it pays well,” She said, pausing for a second with a thoughtful look on her face before she speaking again. “I’m not really sure what I’d like to do though…”
As she trailed off, the table went into silence for a few minutes as we ate our dinner. It wasn't a bad pasta, but still felt a bit plain. It could’ve had some mushrooms and some vegetables. Otherwise, not that bad, I concluded in my head. Rain Bell wasn't a bad cook and with some practice, she could be a good one.
Rain Bell spoke up again, killing the silence, “So what’s your family like, Amethyst?”
I hesitated for a second before replying, “Well my mom lives in Manehatten. She’s really kind, but she’s a typical mom. You know, worrying and all that, especially since my dad left her shortly after I was born,” I explained to Rain Bell as she finished off her plate.
“That’s sad,” Rain Bell said, frowning.
“Yeah. Well how about yours?”
“Well my mom and dad met together in Cloudsdale when they were still in flight school,” Rain Bell started as I listened to her intently. “My dad had a crush on my mom and asked her out. They just fell in love after that and have been together since then. Eventually, they got married and had me. They still live in Cloudsdale right now, but I moved out here to Ponyville,” She finished, smiling at me.
__________
A few minutes later after finishing dinner and washing dishes, Rain Bell and I chatted for a while into the night. We finally realized how late it was and decided it was time for night.
“Well this is your room right here,” Rain Bell said gesturing towards one of the rooms upstairs. “The other door on the left is mine and the one on the right is the bathroom.”
We walked into my new room, moderately decorated with a comfortable looking bed, a wooden desk and matching chair, a wardrobe, and topped off with a rug.
Rain Bell spoke up, “I hope this is good enough for you,” as I set my saddlebags down near my desk
“This is more than enough. Thanks, Rain Bell,” I responding, smiling at her.
Rain Bell smiled back as she said, “That’s nice to hear. Well… Good night then, Amethyst” She waved to me as she stepped out of my room.
“Good night, Rain Bell,” I called back as I stepped towards my bed. I crawled onto it, wiggling my way under the sheets.
Well these are great blankets. Better remember to thank Rain Bell in the morning, I thought to myself as the darkness of sleep washed over me.
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Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Contact me at hunterofstealth@gmail.com
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