//------------------------------// // Act II, Part 1. Getting all the work! // Story: Eight legs of fun! // by Voltsthevoltvolts //------------------------------// "Job!" Vanessa called out. "Does anypony know where I can get a job?" Vanessa stuck out like a sore hoof, her rather loud hairstyle attracted all kinds of attention, both good and bad. The market place was bustling with ponies that were shopping and searching for things to buy. Vanessa walked over to a nearby stall that was selling flowers. "Excuse me..." The shopkeeper quickly turned and looked Vanessa straight in the eyes, causing her to freeze. "Yes?" The somewhat cream colored pony with red hair replied from the stall. "Can I help you?" Vanessa half froze up from the lack of fear in the ponies voice, back in Manehatten Ponies had avoided talking to her at all costs, however ponies here didn't seem to. "Do you know of any jobs that need to be for-filled? I'm a weeks behind on rent and I only just moved here!" Vanessa sighed. "I don't want to go back to Manehatten, but at this rate..." "Yes... You don't look like you have been here too long. As a pegasus you could always join the weather team. I hear the pay is good." The earth pony replied. "Thanks! Do you know who I need to talk to?" Vanessa happily replied, once again she was happy that ponies were talking to her, but at the same time she was scared in case she messed up. "I would go find a weather pegasus and talk to them, one of them will be able to sign you up easily." The pony said happily. "Can I interest you in some flowers?" The pony picked up a large variety of flowers and showed them to Vanessa. "Sure, I will take a bunch of wild flowers. I have a few bits on me, I hope they cover it." Vanessa took a small purse out of her hair and opened it. she then placed three bits on the counter. The pony placed a small collection of flowers on the counter and Vanessa threw them into her hair. "I'm sure Maddie will appreciate these, she has helped me move in the past few days." Vanessa was lost in thought briefly. "I hope she likes these anyway..." "I'm sure she will..." The flower pony looked over to Vanessa quickly. "Vanessa, please to meet you." Vanessa said happily as she bunched the flowers in her hair. "Yes I know its odd..." "I'm Roseluck, and in comparison to some ponies around here... You seem normal." Roseluck laughed slightly. "I think you will fit in here..." "...I Personally think a pony of your class would be better suit working as an assistant for Rarity." Cloudkicker said to Vanessa as they flew just over the skyline of Ponyville. Cloudkicker didn't really understand why Vanessa wanted to be part of the weather team, however they needed the help to control the random weather that came in from Everfree. "But we do need good flyers, I take it you're qualified?" "Of course, I graduated flight school and weather college at a grade Seven-R, don't let my appearance fool you, I am quite the mare." Vanessa said as she landed elegantly on a nearby cloud. "Rest assure I know what I am doing." Vanessa said, reassuring Cloudkicker. "If you say yes I am living near Sugarcube corner, I can't remember the address but I'm sure you will find it easily." "Yes, I remember seeing a house for sale. To be honest I think I can say yes now. You seem to be an average speed, but a stronger fly in terms endurance. I will talk it over with the captain and we will sort out your time table within the next week or so. Expect early mornings." Cloudkicker said as she landed on the same cloud Vanessa was on. "How do you keep your hair so... Tamed?" "Spider-silk gel. One of the many perks of living with thousands of creepy crawlies." Vanessa joked, Cloudkicker took a step back from Vanessa. "No honestly, they use it in Canterlot. Its really expensive to make. I'm lucky the spiders will do it for me." Cloudkicker chuckled slightly. "Yeah, you can fly off and pretend I never said that if you want. I'm used to it..." "No, I wouldn't do that." Cloudkicker quickly rushed out and moved slightly closer to Vanessa. "I heard from Filthy, who heard from his sister, that you had a hard time in Manehatten. The last thing we want here is to make you feel unwelcome." Cloudkicker smiled warmly at Vanessa, who perked up slightly at the friendly gesture. "And anyway, you clearly haven't met the captain of the weather team. She is a quite the character." "Yes... Ponies keep telling me that a few ponies around here are, somewhat different. I don't really have any opinion until I meet these ponies though." Vanessa pointed out. "Do you know anything about them?" "Well I assume you have been told what I know. Ditzy -or- Derpy is a bit clumsy, so be careful if you see her while you are flying. Rainbow Dash, the captain of the weather team has an ego to boot. You also have Pinkie Pie, who I'm sure you already know..." Cloudkicker stopped and looked at Vanessa for a response. "Yep... She threw every. Single. Spider. A welcome to Ponyville party... I think they are still going on!" Vanessa laughed and Cloudkicker joined in. "Yep..." Vanessa sighed happily and sat down. "Then there is Rarity, she is a strange mix of Ponyville and Canterlot. She owns Carousal Boutique, I assume you will be buying a dress there soon. I can imagine you two would get on well." Cloudkicker said happily. "I wonder how many ponies have told you that today..." "About twelve, I would go and visit her but she seems a bit too upper class for me. I'm all for fancy smancy, but if a pony isn't willing to get her hooves dirty..." Vanessa sighed. "I'l give it time, I am new here after all." Vanessa looked over to Cloudkicker. "So besides this, what do you do for living? Or is it just the weather?" "Well... The pay is good enough to sustain me. But every now and then I run lightweight supplies, a courier service if you will." Cloudkicker kick a portion of the cloud lightly. "Anyway I better be going. I seriously think you should go talk to Rarity, she is right up your ally." "Hey Vanessa!" Maddie called out do Vanessa as she came into landing by Sugarcube corner. "You might want to think twice before going in. I can still hear Pinkie, she is wishing Abilias a great welcome to Ponyville." "Ah, Abilias. Such a lovable rouge." Vanessa chuckled happily as Maddie started walking next to her. The two walked around the town aimlessly. "So can I ask you something?" "Sure go ahead!" Maddie happily responded. "Ask away!" "What do you know about the ponies that live here. I keep being told about certain ones. Names like Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Ditzy and Pinkie keep popping up. Also Ponies aren't freaking out about my spiders! What gives?" Vanessa joked happily. "Maybe I'm not as odd as I remember." "No its not that, everypony is just at the same level of weirdness!" Maddie and Vanessa shared a good laugh. "But back to your first question... I don't think I can help you much there. I know the basics about most ponies who live here. But aside from that I know little about them. However my brother has said you would get along with Rarity... But I think that is more because you come from a high class group in Manehatten. I'm not sure if it would work though..." Maddie said with a serious tone. "Yeah, I had the same thoughts. All these assumptions just because I came from upper Manehatten." Vanessa sighed. "I wish ponies wouldn't assume..." "Yeah, having a name like Madly kind means ponies thing you are insane. School was not fun for me." Maddie Chuckled and then stopped walking. "Vanessa can I ask you something?" "Sure, it only seems fair." Vanessa stopped walking a stood by Maddie. "Ask away my friend." "Could I perhaps... Stay with you for a while? I don't really want to go back to Manehatten yet, and my niece is... Well I will say no more." Maddie sighed. "Yeah sure, I mean were both friends. Why would I have a problem?" Vanessa asked, sounding insulted. "Sorry... I guess its just me then. I can be a bit iffy sometimes." Maddie sighed. "Don't we all?" Vanessa gently patted Maddie on the back. I think I will save those flowers for later... Vanessa though to herself.