The Shadow Collective

Released. That's the best word I've heard today. Being in that Urgent Care Facility for 3 days was the worst. The pudding wasn't bad though. Always look at the bright side Cloud that's what you're good at. I walked out of the facility and into the bright light of the sun shining down on Ponyville. The sun on my face is the best feeling I could ask for at this point and that's exactly what I'm getting. Something tells me Ponyville was a good choice. Ponyville, such a simple name, it's just the type of beings that live in it and ville at the end. Really? Creativity and originality at it's finest.

"I'd say so." said an older voice behind me. Of course I knew who it was, the older pony from the train station who had been coming to see me in the facility ever since the crash. "I think Ponyville is a fine name, don't you?"

"I don't have a problem with it." I said, turning to face him. "Who are you anyway?"

"That doesn't matter."

"I think it does, why did you keep coming back to check on me?"

"I was simply worried, my friend."

"Why? All I am to you is a pony you saw at a train station criticizing your home town."

"This isn't my hometown."

"That's what you told me though."

"Did I now?" As the stallion said that, he trotted off in the opposite direction. I began to follow him but I figured it was pointless to keep prodding the bull. I walked on towards an Inn I could stay at till I got my own place. As I walked I looked around, the scenery was great, a nice, quiet, peaceful town. Canterlot doesn't look far away either. If I find Star Fuzz she could go to college in Canterlot as she always dreamed. First of all, I need a job. Even before that, though, I need a place to stay. I opened the door to the inn and walked in.

"Hello, and welcome the the Ponyville Inn." said the Pony at the front desk.

"Hi there, I need a room, for 3 days." I replied.

"Sure thing." She said excitedly. I never understood how these ponies could ever have such pep and spunk. I don't know if spunk is the word for it, but at least I know what I mean, and that's what matters. I handed her a flimsy sack of bits, enough to cover the price of the room. I took my key, thanked the pony and walked up to my room. I unlocked the door and pushed it open. It was nice to have the feeling of having somewhere to stay, and now that I had that I decided I would take a walk around Ponyville, after a shower of course. I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. After being in a hospital it was nice to have my own restroom to clean off and such. I ran the water for a few minutes and stared at it. Watching water flow was so soothing in a way. It keeps me so calm. I stepped into the water and let it run down my fur, my mane, and my tail. I shampooed myself, rinsed of and got out. I dried off and sat on the bathroom floor wrapped in a towel. So warm. I looked at my hooves and ran them through my mane. I heard a knock at the door to my room.

"Just a minute!" I yelled through two sets of doors. No way who ever it was heard me. I cursed to myself and unwrapped the towel around me and proceeded to open up the bathroom door, just to see that the older pony from earlier already made his way in. "How did you get in?"

"The door was unlocked." He said looking around at my room. "This is a nice room. How could you afford this with only what your parents left behind."

"How do you know that?" I said, approaching him slowly.

"Come now, doesn't it seem kind of obvious?"

"No, not really."

"Then I guess I'm just smart, huh?"

"That's one way to put it," I said under my breath. "Why are you here?

"I want to offer you a deal."

"A deal? What kind of deal? Sell my soul to get a fiddle of gold?"

"No nothing like that. It's very simple. You do something for me and I'll give you bits, you need bits don't you?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Perfect! I'll see you out at the edge of the Everfree forest tomorrow morning at dawn then!" He said, shutting the door behind him before I could speak another word. I opened the door once he left and looked around for him but he was no where to be found.

"Dammit, I got to stop letting him get away. That pony is gonna get on my last nerve." I locked the door and grabbed my key. I decided I really needed that walk. I left the Inn and immediately bumped into another pony, literally bumped into. I fell to the ground and looked up. I saw a huge red pony pulling a cart full of apples. Me bumping into him didn't phase him for even a second. He looked down at me and spoke.

"Sorry." He said offering me a hoof up.

"It's okay." I took his hoof and got on all four hooves.

"Big Mac! Consarnit! Didn't I tell you to look where you were going?" A familiar voice said in the distance. "Cloud Spark is that you?"

"Applejack? Yeah, it's me. How'd you know my name though?"

"Well I had to visit my favorite patient didn't I? The nurses told me they found you out cold in the dirt. I asked them your name and they told me it was Cloud Spark. Before I tried making sense of it through your cutie mark but i couldn't make much from six circles and colored dots on each of them."

"You're telling me. I don't even know what it means, or what it has to do with my name."

"Well that seems like quite a situation you've got there. I think I might know some one who can help you out there, if you'd like."

"I suppose it couldn't hurt."

"Good. Big Macintosh, take these to the market and get them ready for selling."

"Yup!" The larger pony replied and walked off, hauling the cart like it's nothing.

"That pony is quite the stallion isn't he?" I said watching him walk off.

"Yeah, that's my big brother, Big Macintosh." Applejack said watching him as well.

"Well anyway, about this friend of yours."

"Oh! Sure thing partner! She's just a few blocks from here."

"Shall we then?"