//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Canines and Chickens 
// Story: Life in Ponyville:New Town, New Beginnings 
// by SeaBreeze173 
//------------------------------//

	The next morning found Sea Breeze lying on her bed, Angus once again cuddled up against her back. Twilight had insisted on the family staying with her until their new home was fixed up. Bass and Amethyst had bought a large two-story house on the other side of Ponyville. Amethyst had an unhealthy obsession, as Bass called it, with old, historic houses. The past two houses the family lived in were new and had modern everything, something that Bass loved. Before the move to Ponyville, however, Amethyst insisted that they renovate once more. Bass reluctantly agreed. As his father would say, happy wife, happy life. 

The room Twilight gave Sea Breeze was medium sized, slightly larger than her old room back in Vanhoover. The floor was hard wood, with several throw rugs laid throughout. Four windows lined the outer walls, a view of Canterlot Mountain in the distance. The walls were painted a light blue. The bed, a huge queen sized, four posted bed, had a mattress so comfortable that Sea nearly disappeared amongst the blankest and pillows. She asked Twilight if it was okay for Angus to sleep on it with her and though the alicorn was slightly hesitant at first, the puppy dog eyes both Sea and Angus were giving her won out. 

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
“Whatzat!” Sea leaped straight up, hitting her head on the headboard of the bed. “Ooww,” the pegasus rubbed her head as she attempted to kill the annoying clock, which read seven A.M. 
“Would you just shut up already?!” Sea finally hit the right button, sighing. “Finally. C’mon Angus, let’s get you outside.”

After Angus got done with his business, Sea went back up to her room to brush her hair and pull it out of her eyes. She looked at her hair ribbons, trying to decide which one to use. She settled on her turquoise bow that her grandmother Sapphire had given to her for her sixteenth birthday. “You may not be here with me today, but you’re here in spirit, right, MawMaw?” 
Sea’s paternal grandparents lived in Trottingham. Sea lived next door to them for four years before her parents had to move once more, this time to Vanhoover, where they lived for a year. Even though she still got to see them, not living right beside her grandparents was tough. 
“Sea Breeze?” Sea turned around, her bow halfway falling off as she did so. She smiled at the alicorn peeking in the room.
“Yeah, Twilight?” Sea pulled the bow down and began trying to put it up once more when she saw a magenta aura take hold of the bow. “Here, let me help,” Twilight smiled, coming over to the vanity Sea was sitting at. 
“Thanks, Twi,” Sea smiled. 
“There.” Twilight nodded approvingly. 
“So, did you need something?” the pegasus asked, looking at her friend. 
“Oh, right. I was wondering if you wanted to go visit a friend with me,” 
“Well, I was going to go look around town later,” Sea replied, grabbing her tube of mascara. 
“It won’t be long. Fluttershy just needed some help with a few things and I wanted to see if you might like to come along,” Twilight sat down on the bed. 
“Fluttershy. She was the Pegasus standing beside Prissy and who Lightning was oogling over yesterday, right?” 
“Rarity. And yes, that’s Fluttershy,” Twilight giggled. Sea nodded, laying down the mascara tube. 
“You know, Fluttershy used be quite shy. Not unlike you, Breezey,” the alicorn said as Sea Breeze began organizing the room a little bit. 
“She was? She didn’t seem shy yesterday. I mean, she stayed over to the side most of the time, but she didn’t seem ultra nervous,” 
“She’s gotten better over the years, but she prefers to stay in the background most of the time. Now get her talking about animals, then you’ll never get away from her,” the Princess shook her head. 
“She likes animals?” Sea perked up, dropping one of Angus’ toys. 
“Loves them. You should bring Angus with us,” 
“Okay!”
~~~
An hour later Twilight and Sea Breeze, with Angus close behind, were walking to Fluttershy’s cottage. As they walked along the path, Sea told Twilight about her life over the past couple of years. Sea was born in Canterlot. She loved the capital city with all her heart. Because of her family’s friendship with Twilight’s, the two mares grew up together and were best friends, even though Twilight was three years older. After living in Canterlot for ten years, Bass began to miss his home city of Trottingham. The family moved to a house next to Bass’ parents. Sea loved being near her grandmother Sapphire. In the summer time the family would visit Canterlot for a few weeks. After four years in Trottingham, the family moved once more, this time to Vanhoover. Two years after moving to Vanhoover, Sea’s loyal canine companion came into her life. 

After a twenty minute walk, the two ponies and dog arrived at a small cottage at the edge of Ponyville, near the Everfree Forest. Twilight trotted up to the door to knock as Sea and Angus hung back. Sea was beginning to feel nervous. She began counting backwards from ten and taking deep breaths, calming herself. It was something her mother had showed her to do when she began to feel panicky. 
“Hello Twilight,” Sea Breeze heard a soft voice say. She looked towards the cottage and saw Twilight with the yellow and pink pegasus. 
“Hi Fluttershy. I brought somepony along to help with the critters,” Twilight looked over her shoulder at Sea Breeze. “C’mon, Sea.” 
Sea Breeze slowly trotted up behind Twilight. She peaked around Twilight at Fluttershy, Angus standing beside her. 
“Oh. Um, hi. Sea Breeze, was it?” Fluttershy smiled shyly. 
“Yes,” Sea smiled back. Fluttershy then saw Angus. 
“Oh my goodness! What a handsome dog!” Fluttershy beamed, trotting up the black and white beast. 
“WAIT—” Sea cried out, trying to stop Fluttershy, who was reaching out to the dog. “Huh?” Sea looked on astounded as Angus flipped over on his back, begging for a belly rub. “Well, that’s, um, new.” Sea was used to Angus backing up against her, growling at ponies that attempted to rub his soft fur. Sea leaned towards Twilight.  	“How is she doing that?” 
“Fluttershy is just really good with animals. I have no idea how she does it. Winter Wrap Up was a nightmare for me when I tried waking up the critters from their hibernation, but for Fluttershy, it was a piece of cake,” Twilight replied. 
“It’s just that, he has never let anypony other than me rub his belly. Everypony else he growls at, even my family,” Sea shook her head. Angus was thoroughly enjoying himself, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Sea bent down beside Fluttershy, the yellow Pegasus glancing up the young mare. 
“What’s his name?” Fluttershy asked.
“Angus,” Sea replied.
“That’s a handsome name for a handsome dog,” 
“Thanks,” Sea beamed.
For the next hour Sea helped Fluttershy and Twilight with Fluttershy’s animals. Twilight had a few problems with several of the irritable critters. At the end of the chores, Twilight’s mane was frazzled and her left eye was twitching. Sea giggled at her friend as they left Fluttershy’s cottage. 
“What are you laughing at?” Twilight grumbled.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” Sea snorted, the alicorn rolling her eyes. 
“Twilight?” Sea asked a few moments later. 
“Yeah, Breezey?” 
“Um, I was wondering how far away Applejack’s home is?”
“Sweet Apple Acres isn’t very far from here. Why?” 
“Would it be okay if we went over? I would like to apologize to Applejack about the, you know, incident, yesterday,” Sea’s ears went back slightly. Twilight smiled brightly at her friend.
“Sure. I think we have time. Follow me.”

After a ten minute walk, the two arrived at the apple farm. Sea Breeze breathed in deeply. She loved the smell of apples. They were her favorite fruit. She especially loved the sour bite of the green granny smiths. 
“Howdy, Twi!” Applejack smiled, trotting up to the Alicorn and pegasus. 	“Hello Applejack. Sea wanted to come over to say something to you,” Applejack’s eyes widened as she noticed the grey coated pegasus standing behind the princess. 
“Um, hi, Applejack. I, uh, wanted to, you know, apologize for what happened yesterday. I’m sorry if I, um, upset you any,” Sea Breeze said softly, trying her best not to lower her head or fly off. The farm mare blinked a few times, then smiled.
“It’s okay, sugar cube. Ah understand that you aren’t the social type and—” Applejack stopped when she felt hooves tighten around her neck, looking down into a blue and burgundy mane. 
“Thanks, Applejack. I am sorry, though,” Sea Breeze sighed, removing her hooves from the cowpony. Applejack took a few moments to get her footing back.
“If it makes ya feel any better, Ah think Granny just finished baking a pie, if ya’d like a slice,”
“Would I!” Sea perked right up at the thought of a delicious slice of homemade apple pie. “Uh, where can Angus stay?” she asked, her eyes then going wide. “Wait a minute. Twilight, where’s Angus?” Sea looked around frantically for the black dog. Twilight touched Sea’s shoulder, pointing over to the left of them. 
“I think he’s made a new friend,” the alicorn laughed, gesturing at Angus, who was currently playing with Applejack’s Border collie, Winona. Sea relaxed, smiling at her pet. 
“Ah think Winona can take care of him for a little while. Does he chase chickens or anything like that?” Applejack inquired.
“I don’t think he’s ever seen a chicken. But he’s never chased cats or anyth—” a loud barking noise came from the chicken coop.
“Ooh boy. ANGUS!!”