The Shallow Series - Book 1: Making Friends

        "So, what's your story?"

   I lick my snow-cone as I process this question. After we got kicked out of Carousel Boutique, Rain and I decided to get something cold to eat. Which brings me back to Rain's question.

     "My story?" I ask. I was curious as to why Rain would question something like that. It was private business that I even had trouble talking to Twilight about.

        "Well yeah, kinda," Rain put a hoof to his chin. "I was actually wondering where you came from. I mean I've never seen you around town and you suddenly show up out of the blue." I cocked my head. I've known him for what? Two hours? And he already wants to know about me? Wow. Friends are weird.

        "Well it's gonna take awhile to tell you the whole thing," I say. "Alright, here it goes."

***

        Travel back in time about... twenty years. My parents met at a trading fair, then they fell in love. My dad was a miniature dragon (a dragon the size of a pony), and my mom was a plain old Pegasus.

         Fast forward about five years later. My mom had just died after giving birth to me. She went into cardiac arrest, her death was sudden. For many years my dad blamed me for it, then he became really depressed. I guess I can understand his pain a little bit, but I never really knew my mom.

        Somewhere in the time period of my early teenage years, my dad kicked the bucket. I was really sad about it and I didn't know what to do, so I just packed my stuff and left. I traveled Equestria for about half-a-year before I picked my life back up again.

         I came to Ponyville with high hopes. I was greeted with smiles, and for once in my life I felt welcome! Being a bit too young to live on my own, I needed a place to stay. I ran into Princess Twilight Sparkle one day and she asked about me, considering i'm part dragon. We talked for awhile and then, she took me in as her own. Since then, Twilight has become a mom to me and Spike became my little brother. I've been living with them for about a month.

***

        "Wow," Rain says. "That's just. Wow." He looks at me with sympathy even though I don't care anymore.

        "Stop looking at me like that," his face looks confused. "Anyways, what is your story?" He rolls his eyes while taking the last bite of his snow-cone.

        "Well I was born and raised here in Ponyville, I have a marefriend named Snow Fog-" he stopped after he saw my reaction. I drop my snow-cone and watch it melt on the ground. Of course he'd have a marefriend. He's super nice and all around a great pony.

        "Like I said before," Rain starts slowly. "I have a marefriend named Snow Fog. Now, my family... Most of my family lives in Cloudsdale. My parents are originally from there, so about six months ago they moved back and left me the house."

        "Well that's cool. Hey, do you know what time it is? I think Celestia is going to make the sun set soon."

        We both look over toward a clock shop near us. "It's six P.M... I think. I should be heading home soon." Rain says groggily. I hadn't noticed the bags under his eyes until now.

        "Yeah," I say with a yawn. "I should too. It was nice hanging out with you, Rain. We should do this another time." We hoof bump and then go our separate ways. He walks toward town hall, I walk toward the giant crystal castle off in the distance.

***

        After a quick shower, I head to dinner. Twilight said that she is going to be having guests tonight so Spike and I will be eating in the kitchen and not in the dining room with everypony else. Entering the kitchen, I see a giant mess with Spike in the middle of it.

        "What did you do?" I ask. "Since when does making spaghetti cause a mess like this?"

        "Well I didn't make spaghetti," Spike's bottom lip began to quiver. "Twi said that she wanted me to make a magic casserole instead. After I put the casserole in the oven I waited for it to finish. Then the timer went off, I opened the oven and BAM! It exploded."

        "Does Twilight know what happened?" The little dragon shook his head no, tears spilling from his eyes. "Well we got what? Forty-five minutes before Twilight's guests get here? You think we can clean up and make a new, non-magic casserole in time?"

        "I think so," Spike says nodding his head.

        In twenty minutes' time, Spike and I clean the kitchen and we start making the new dish.

        "The trick is to let it sit in the oven for a couple minutes after the timer goes off," I say reassuring Spike.

We wait. And then the timer goes off. And we wait again.

***

"Twilight! It's good to see you!"

"Twily!"

"Twilight Sparkle, it been long since our last visit, yes?"

"My dearest, Twilight Sparkle!"

        ...Is all I hear from the kitchen. I look over at Spike and he rolls his eyes.

"I almost feel like they forgot about us," Spike says rubbing his chin.

        "You. They forgot about you. They don't even know I exist," I say. "Hey, you wanna do something nice for Twi?"

        "Um sure," he says. "What are you thinking?"

"Let's play servants," I reply. "Bring them food and refill their drinks."

        Spike nods his head in approval at my suggestion and we quickly set to work. I grab two serving plates and he grabs two aprons. I put my mane up and he slicks his scales back. We're ready.