Chapter 1
Fate is cruel.
Nopony liked me because I had no cutie mark, despite me being an adult. They called me a freak everywhere I went. They called me horrible names and kicked me out of my town I live in. Everywhere I went. I had to constantly move from town to town just to experience peace for a few days before the cycle started all over again. Nopony seemed to accept me. Nopony seemed to care.
Until he showed up.
It was like any normal day. Well, if you call staying at a crappy apartment with nothing but a small ragged bed and a cheap shower normal. I just couldn't go out because I didn't want to be shunned away. But I couldn't stay in. I would starve, or die of dehydration. Probably the latter. Not that I care at this point. My life sucks, and I pray to the Sun Goddess Celestia to send me a guardian angel. But that will never happen. I don't deserve one.
My stomach growled like an angry tiger. I needed some food or water, or I would die. I grabbed my bed's azure blanket to cover my bare flank. Why didn't I think of that before?
I rushed out of the apartment. I ran through my current home town Ponyville in search of a sufficient building that would supply my needs. I could really use a cupcake or something like that.
I raced past a couple of Ponyville homes and residents. I'm pretty lucky the blanket hiding my blank flank didn't fly away after all that running. I don't even know how that works. During my search I spotted what appeared to be a house completely composed of candy. Upon closer inspection, I discovered the name of the house was "Sugarcube Corner." Sounds more like a bakery, though it doesn't seem very smart to build anything meant as a home or business out of edible material. The sound of my stomach rumbling reminded me of my goal once more. I was tired, hungry, and the candy bakery just made my hunger increase. I took a deep breath, and with no hesitation I pushed the doors of Sugarcube Corner open and entered the building.
The second I stepped into the bakery, I took in the aroma of sliced bread and baked treats. There were various cupquakes, cookies and lollipops on display protected by pink stained glass. I trotted over to the counter where I assumed I would need to order what I wanted. The inside of Sugarcube Corner filled me to the brim with joy, and I was tempted to order more than just one cupcake.
Behind the counter stood a mare with a light pink coat and an impossibly fluffy dark pink mane.
"Well aren't you a new face! Can I take your order?" the pink pony cheerfully said. She seems really happy.
"A red velvet cupcake please." I put two bits on the counter. She pulled a cupcake seemingly out of nowhere and handed it to me. I thanked her, but before I could start heading to the exit, her cheerful face suddenly changed to one of confusion.
"Wait, you're new right?"
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"Well, I have lived in an apartment in Ponyville for the last three months, though I don't explore around much and only come out to purchase food and clean water. Then I just spend the rest of the day in my apartment trying to sleep, crying over the last bowl of soup being spilled, that sort of stuff. So yeah, I guess I could be considered n-" I stopped near the end of my sentence when I realized the pink pony was nowhere to be found. I looked around. Nope, she definitely wasn't in the building. But it wasn't her sudden disappearance that startled me. It was what I said that creeped me out. Usually, I'm shy and hesitant about openly telling a pony about my current situation. Just now, I didn't hesitate at all and seemed like the exact opposite of shy.
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The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to leave.
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I grabbed the red velvet cupcake with my hoof somehow, and headed for the exit vowing to never come back to this creepy place again. Wait, where did that pony come from?
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I tripped on the pony's hoof, causing the blanket to fall off revealing my mark-less flank and sending the cupcake flying.
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"I got it!" shouted the voice of what seemed to be a stallion. I ignored it, as I was more focused on the fact that my entire dinner was going to be reduced to a pile of mush. All of a sudden a red blur blocked my vision.
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I stood up and rubbed my eyes. The stallion I heard from before was holding the cupcake in one piece with his hoof. I couldn't believe it. My dinner was going to become a pile of garbage, and then somepony stepped in and saved the day. For me.
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This bakery truly is magical.
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"W-wha... Uh... thank you! I truly appreciate your act of kindness!" I said as the pony handed me the frosted treat. I could see who it was: A red Pegasus with short brown hair and a sword for a cutie mark. Though the cutie mark terrified me.
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"Your welcome! You must be new here." The winged pony said.
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"Uh... I guess? If you consider living for three months being new, then sure."
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"The name's Wind Waker. But you can call me Wind." He said as he put a hoof out.
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"Dawn." I said, shaking hooves with him. "I need to head home now, unless you want to come?" I asked, a hint of desperation in my voice. I hadn't had company since I lived with my parents.
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"I guess I have nothing better to do." Wind laughed.
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"So you're not going to ask about my lack of cutie mark?" I asked with confusion.
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"Not really" Wind deadpanned. "And I don't care either. Besides, I have a little sister who hasn't found her talent yet." Well there's a difference between a filly without one and a grown adult. Oh well. At least he isn't laughing at me.
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"Well, thank Celestia." I said. Me and Wind exited Sugarcube Corner and trotted together through the empty streets. Market stands have been placed around the town for the Summer Harvest Festival. Ponies were selling berries, apricots, peaches, and other assortments of fruits. Too bad I didn't bring any more bits with me.
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"So, what brings you here?" Wind asked me.
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"I move constantly. This was the closest town to my previous home." I replied shyly. Where's a magical gingerbread bakery when you need one?
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"Why did you move?"
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"I just don't fit in."
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"Why?"
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"Because I have no cutie mark."
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"Why would you move because of that? It's not like moving will magically grant you a special talent."
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This is starting to get really annoying. Why is he asking all these questions? Doesn't he realize that I don't want to talk about my past? "Will you shut your speech hole for just one second?" I outburst. I immediately covered my mouth with my hoof. "Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean it! Please don't hate me!" Great. I just met the first pony in my life to keep up a conversation with me for more than five minutes, and I yell at him just for being curious. What is wrong with me?
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"Hold up, why would I hate you? You obviously don't wanna talk about your life before, and I was stupid for not realizing that earlier. This doesn't mean I dislike you all of a sudden! I made a mistake, and I'm sorry for it." Wind said in a apologetic tone. It surprised me how kind and understanding he was. This might have been the best day in my whole life. I just made a my first friendship, and hopefully I won't mess it up.
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"B-but I don't usually get THAT angry." I explained.
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"Oh. Are you angry at all?" Wind asked.
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"Very much, but usually bottle it up inside. I've never held a conversation that long to release it." I said. Then, out of nowhere, my stomach growled again. I knew I should have purchased more cupcakes.
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"I think a single cupcake isn't going to fill you up." Wind said. "Wanna have some lunch with me? Its my treat."
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"Sure!" I said. I've never been more excited in my life. Nopony has ever asked me to go to lunch before. I'll make sure not to mess this up.