It was a bright, shining day in Ponyville. Everyone was about their business. It was a normal morning. That is, until a strange pony in a black velvet cloak came into town. Their face and body were covered by the cloak except their front legs and lower chest area which were a light gray. No pony was really sure where or when they came in. It was like they just appeared in town. It was rare for ponies to just come to a small town like Ponyville with no warning or anything.
The Ponyville ponies of course tried to approach her but she ignored them. She just continued walking as if completely unaware of the world around her. She continued walking in the direction of Twilight's library. By the time she got there most of Ponyville was following her. She knocked on the library door.
...
Twilight was having a reading day. The excitement of her becoming an Alicorn Princess had kept her very busy. After her official Coronation in Canterlot Pinkie Pie threw the party of all parties in Ponyville. Then Twilight had to spend a good chunk of time calming everypony in Ponyville down. After all, they would be having a princess living in their very town. However, things had finally slowed down enough that she could just have a day to herself to read. Spike was with Rarity, who was probably using him to do her messier chores while she worked, Pinkie was doing whatever Pinkie did in her spare time, Dash's boss had told her that she would have to work all day and work fast if she wanted to keep her job as a weather pony, Fluttershy was having an animal picnic, and AJ was off doing farm work.
However the peacefulness of her book ( "A history of magic Vol.10" An old favorite.) was interrupted when she heard a knock on her door. Reluctantly, she got up and answered the door.
She saw the strange, cloaked pony, followed by the majority of Ponyville. "Hello?" Twilight said a little nervously.
No answer.
"Well, come on in I suppose "
The mare came in without a word. Twilight closed the door with her magic. As soon as it clicked shut the strange pony lifted their hood revealing a young, unicorn mare with a red mane. Her mane was in a braid secured by a golden clip in the shape of a dragon.
"Hello" The unicorn had a thick accent but Twilight wasn't sure where exactly it came from " I have heard of you, princess. It has been a long time since a pony was made into an Alicorn. And to top it off, your the Element of Magic. I have come to Ponyville to come meet you face to face. My name Lunarflower."
" My name is Twilight Sparkle. But I guess you already knew that. So did you really come to Ponyville just to see me?" Twilight asked.
"Well, that was a big part of the reason, but not entirely. You see, I'm a puppeteer. However my last puppets....they were destroyed. I've been looking for new ones for quite some time. I can be quite picky. And if I know anything from years of experience, it's that you find treasures in the most unexpected places."
Twilight wondered how old the mare really was. She looked no older then twenty-five, but she talked as if she were much older. Twilight didn't ask, as it seemed like a rude thing to do.
" You might want to talk to my friend, Rarity. She mostly makes clothes, but I'm sure she could handle a couple of puppets. She's very talented at what she does. And an amazing business pony. If I hadn't come along, she probably would have shop in Canterlot or Manehatten or some other big city by now! Maybe even a company!" Twilight said.
"Perhaps I will. Do you know where a good place to stay is? I plan on being here a little while." Lunarflower asked calmly.
Twilight thought about the question. "Well, we don't really have a hotel or anything here, seeing how rare it is for people to come through. However there are plenty of ponies who would let you stay with them. Heck, you can even just stay here if you'd like. I have an extra bed."
"Really? That is very kind. Thank you."
"Anytime. Oh and just in case you don't know, I have a baby dragon spike. He won't be any trouble."
"You are very generous Twilight. I thank you. Now I am going to go look around town. Meet some ponies. Also this Rarity, where is her shop? I would love to go talk to her. Maybe even arrange to get some puppets."
"Of course. She'll be at the Carousel Boutique." Twilight gave Lunarflower Rarity's address and described the shop. Lunarflower thanked her and walked out the door.
She seemed nice enough even if she was a bit odd. She hoped that the ponies of Ponyville would realize that too. Otherwise, it would be the Zecora fiasco all over again. Now that she was gone, Twilight could get back to reading.
...
Lunarflower left the library. The ponies that had followed her here had gotten in bored and wandered away. Good. She trotted of in the direction of Rarity's shop. The Element of Generosity. What would be going on inside her head, Lunarflower wondered as she walked up to the shop. She opened the door, the store bell jingling.
The white mare turned her head from the dress she was working on.
"Oh hello. You must be new in town. I'm Rarity, and this is my shop and home, the Carousel Boutique. Please, come in. Now would you like to look around or do you have a custom order?" Rarity asked Lunarflower as she walked in.
"Hello, I'm Lunarflower. Your friend, Twilight told me that you might be able to do something for me. I know you mostly make dresses and such, but I am a puppeteer in desperate need of some puppets. Twilight said that your very talented.
"Well, I suppose I can try. But mind you, I've never made a puppet before so they may not turn out well. However, I will try my best!"
"Thank you. I am staying with your friend Twilight. You can alert me when they are ready." And with that, Lunarflower left the shop.
Rarity was....shaken after the puppeteer had come into her shop. It was like a cold breeze had blown straight through the closed windows. The mare had seemed almost....unnatural.
Lunarflower was just a bit odd. After all, there were plenty of variety's when it came to the personalities of ponies. She just wasn't something that you saw in a mundane town like Ponyville. Just because it was rare for ponies to pass through, doesn't mean they never did. If Rarity let it get to her, then it would just end up with her looking silly when somepony proved that there was nothing unnatural about Lunarflower. After all, the puppeteer said she was staying with Twilight.
So....puppets. Business had been slow lately. She had no other orders, so she may as well get to work. Why had the mare not describe what kind of puppets she wanted? Why hadn't Rarity asked? Rarity thought about hunting the mare down and asking her, but she decided against it. If the mare didn't like how they were done then Rarity could just make new ones.
Rarity realized for a second that this was out of character for her. Since when did she not do everything to please the customer as much as possible? But she brushed it off as quickly as the thought had occurred.
...
Lunarflower walked through the small town. It may have seemed small and mundane on the outside, but it pulsed with power. The power of the Elements. The power of an Alicorn. She wondered what it would be like to have all that power in her hoof. But first she had to meet them. She had to know what to expect first.
Outside of a colorful sweet shop, bounced a pink earth pony with a darker pink, poofy mane and tail. Her cutie mark was two blue party balloons and one yellow party balloon slightly above the two blue ones. In her mouth she held a platter with big, blue cupcakes with rainbow colored icing. On each cupcake there was a candy in the shape of a cloud with a rainbow lighting bolt. A slip of paper hanging from the platter said in big, blue crayon letters "FREE SAMPLES"
The pink earth pony saw the unicorn approach. "HI I'M PINKIE PIE!!! I'vneverseenyoubeforewhichmeansyoumustbenewsinceIknow-everyponyinponyville...."
The pink pony went on and on, but Lunarflower made no attempt to stop her. The unicorn actually listened to her, hanging on to every word.
"Twilight said that I should talk to ponies before throwing them a party and tell them about it before breaking into their home and inviting the town. I think she was being silly, but I agreed anyway because it made her happy and I love making ponies happy! I even have a song about it!"
Lunarflower realized that the free samples tray had disappeared. It didn't matter.
"So what's your name?"
"My name is Lunarflower. It's funny you mention Twilight. I'm staying with her."
"Oh cool! Now when I go to visit her, I can visit you too! So where ya from? How long are you staying!!? Huh, huh, huh??!"
"I'm from many places. As for how long I'm staying....I am not sure...."
"Oh that's cool. You know, Ponyville is a really great place! You should stick around for a while! Anyway this is Sugarcube Corner! My foster parents, the Cakes own it! It's Ponyville's best and only sweet shop!" The platter materialized in her hoof again and she held it up to Lunarflower. "You want one? I made them myself! They're really good!! I made sure!"
Lunarflower levitated a cupcake and popped it into her mouth. It was....amazing. She thanked Pinkie and then said goodbye. She scanned the area, wondering where to go next. Sweet Apple Acres, she decided.