"Welcome to Ponyville," the sign read. The ivory unicorn looked over it a few more times in the glow of the setting sun before nodding to himself, then slowly starting to walk toward the town. The stallion let his mind wander while meandering further into the village. Will Travel, as he answered to, visited many a town before in similar fashion, but each one was never what he wanted - home. It had started to become a routine for him; visit a town, make some bits, and when he didn't feel that spark he'd move on and continue to venture.
"Maybe it'll be different this time." The hopeful tone in his voice was forced, as if to keep his hopes low.
The further into town the unicorn walked the more ponies started to stare and talk when he passed by. Could it be the fact he was a new pony in town? That he was monochrome, save for his deep purple eyes? Perhaps it was the fact he kept his mane and tail long, unlike most stallions? Maybe it was the odd trinity of horse shoes that adorned his flank as a cutie mark.
The unicorn shrugged it off and continued to pull his cart along the roads. He had more important things on his mind right now, like a place to spend the night, and it wasn't the first time he had gotten such a cold reception either. Scanning his eyes over the town brought a satisfied smile to the stallion's features. It was a quaint town, much smaller then his home town of Manehattan, and he liked it that way. One of the many reasons he'd left manehattan in the first place was the stuffy, snobbish behavior of everypony in the city. The snow white pony was so lost in his thoughts and assessment of Ponyville he didn't notice the tan colored pony walking right into his path. Of course, the pair collided, much to the consternation of anypony near by.
"OH THE HORROR! THE HORROR!" shouted a pale pink bystander whom promptly fainted after witnessing the crash that left Will and his cart toppled over.
"O... oh no! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" came the rather timid reply from the pony that crashed into the unicorn.
Mostly unfazed, Will got back up and smiled to reassure the poor colt before him. "I'm okay really, you just blind sided me. I'm sorry for not paying attention to where I was going."
Clearly shocked at the apology, the other pony shifted uncomfortably. Will, on the other hoof, righted his cart and started to put things back into it before turning his attention to the poor frazzled earth pony before him. "It's okay really, you don't need to beat yourself up over it mister...?"
"... Caramel," came the hushed response, and much to Caramel’s confusion a black unshorn hoof was held out before him.
"I'm Will Travel, but everyone calls me Will" The pair shook hooves, the smile and happy demeanor of the unicorn throwing Caramel for a loop.
"S... so uh, you're new in Ponyville, Will?"
Before Will could respond a bell went off in the distance, making both Caramel and Will jump in shock.
"OH NO, MY DELIVERIES ARE GOING TO BE LATE!"
"HORSEAPPLES I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A HOTEL ROOM YET! Oh no, if I don't hurry all the places in town will be booked! Look Caramel, we'll catch up tomorrow, okay? I'll come find you around here at noon?"
Rather then wait for a response, the unicorn bolted down the street toward the inn on the horizon. Thankfully the sign was still out front, and just maybe he'd make it at this rate. Luck however, decided to be cruel to poor Will and just as he got to the front door a teal pony slipped out front and placed a no vacancy sign upon the door. The mixture of frustration and defeat was evident as will banged his head upon the archway to the inn. "Shoot, I guess it won't be my first night under the stars," mumbled the dejected pony.
Caramel was simply stunned by this newcomer. Crashing into him, toppling his cart, and even a chance at no room for the night. His unlucky horseshoes were in full force tonight and yet, Will was polite, kind, apologized for the accident, and even wanted to see him again. Caramel went back to delivering the rest of his packages for the night, a smile on his lips as he imagined what was in store tomorrow afternoon.
Gloomily Will walked down the now barren streets of Ponyville. Every inn in town was booked for the night, but the unicorn kept his thoughts about him. Despite the grim turn of events, he trotted around until a nice field came into view. "Thank Luna it's not cold tonight," Will muttered to himself before curling up beside his cart.
"COME ON BOYS, WE'RE ALMOST DONE FOR THE NIGHT!" A train was coming onto the horizon, a rather familiar clattering of hooves and roaring accompanying the train. Will groaned and lifted his head up, staring over at it in irritation.
"So much for going to bed early," The unicorn grumbled. There wasn't much for him to do in town, so he might as well go watch all the ponies coming home from the train. Will made his way over to the train platform, Stretching himself out before getting a chill of nostalgia. This was something he and his mother did countless times. Sitting on the platform watching his father leaving on one of his great journeys into the unknown. Before he had realized it, the train was stopped in front of him and ponies had started to disembark. Will thoughtfully decided to move over to the side and get out of the way.
"Hyaaaa, it's been a long day boys," Promontory snorted out, stretching his body as the others from his team took a drink from the trough set up for them. Once they'd each gotten their fill all of them took a step back, knowing what was coming. Promontory dunked his dark chocolate head into the trough like he was bobbing for apples, shaking himself hard once he'd cooled off.
"G... GAH!" Will sputtered as he found himself on the receiving end of an unintentional shower from the train pony. A good portion of his mane clung soaked and matted to the unicorn’s pelt.
Promontory couldn't help but laugh at the victim of his shaking before trotting over. "I apologize for that sir, most people know not to get too close when I get back into town." He eyed the unicorn up and down before smiling to himself. "You must be new around here though, I think I'd remember a face like you. Name’s Promontory."
"Will Travel," muttered the unicorn while he shook himself off, his expression clearly showing aggravation before letting out a sigh and smiling. "Yeah, I'm new in town. Only got here recently."
"Well isn't that something! Hey, are you up to much? Maybe I could take you to this great place I know to get some chow. I'm mighty starving after hauling trains all day!"
Will was going to protest against such an offer when his traitorous stomach spoke for him. A deep guttural growl cut the silence before Promontory roared with laughter.
"I suppose you won't take no for an answer now, huh?" the smaller colt grumbled.
" ’Fraid not, Will," the stallion said with a grin across his features as he waved good night to his co-workers. Will was slow to get off the platform, and much to his dismay he felt a hearty tug on his tail. Promontory was smirking and dragging him along untill the unicorn finally gave up and started to walk beside him. "So where you staying while you're in town?"
Will managed to silence a gasp in his throat before responding, and thought quick on his hooves to come up with a reply. His voice wavered ever so slightly as he replied, "O... oh, just this quiet little place on the other side of town, has a nice view and all that too!" He was a horrid liar when caught on the spot like this.
"That so, well that's good to hear. You on vacation or something?"
"N... no I'm just kind of wandering, I don't really have a place to call home. I grew up in Manehattan but the city was too congested, and I felt trapped there." Will was relived; it seemed the earth pony bought his lie for now and was going to let it drop.
"Manehattan huh? Nice place it is. Can agree with you though, wouldn't wanna live there either. Well here we are!" Promontory kicked the door open and held it in place for the now embarrassed unicorn who trotted in to the gaze of all the ponies inside.
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Dinner had gone off without a hitch. The pair traded stories back and forth until the diner closed. The pair of ponies, now full and content, trotted off toward the middle of town where Promontory reluctantly spoke up. "Well, I'd better get back home, gotta start hauling freight early in the morning. Make some honest bits, you know?"
"Y... yeah. Please don't let me keep you up Promontory, I'm sure I'll see you again." Will smiled, waving a hoof goodbye to the earth pony. Will made sure to wait until Promontory was out of sight before slinking his way back to the field his cart was parked in. Curling back up the unicorn let out a sigh of exhaustion before promptly drifting off to sleep.
"Like I wouldn't question such a dodgy response," Promontory whispered softly. Without another word the stallion came over and threw a blanket over the pony. Content with his deed he trotted back toward his home to get a good night's rest. "Hopefully I'll catch you again, you silly little pony."
Celestia's shimmering sun was beaming down on the citizens of Ponyville, much to the dismay of a certain white unicorn. Will groaned at the bright light and promptly covered his face with the blanket from atop him. The realization that he even had a blanket started to set in, the unicorn promptly leaned up and examined the cloth. The blue fabric still rested over his figure as he examined it, perhaps for some clue as to whom placed it upon him while he was sleeping. A tumble weed was present in the corner of the blanket; it must’ve been the cutie mark of whomever gave it to him. "I'll have to return this." He said aloud while magically folding the cloth and stashing it in his cart.
The unicorn made his way back into town with determination in his mind. Not only did he have to find the pony that lent the blanket to him, but he also had to subdue his growling stomach. Suddenly, Will happened upon a strange store that looked like a ginger bread home. The unicorn smiled wide at the unique building and found himself trotting inside.
Will's eyes wandered the rows upon rows of pastries. Each one looked delectable to the hungry unicorn but before he could contemplate much longer, a voice called out to him from over the counter.
"Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner! What can I get you, sport?" Will blinked and looked up at the yellow stallion staring down at him.
Will silently mulled over the choices before shyly responding. "O . . oh . . . um . . . could I get peppermint tea and a chocolate eclair?
"Sure thing, sport. That'll be six bits. You can take a seat while you wait." The yellow stallion had gotten a pick-up order and was tending to another patron, a grey pegasus, standing beside Will.
"MUFFINS!" The grey mare exclaimed excitedly when she received her prize, haphazardly bolting out the door after she had paid.
Will had just sat himself down and placed his order on the table when a blue and pink mare came trotting into view. The mare beamed with delight at the sight of the new face. "Well hello there, sweet heart! You look like you're new in town. I'm Mrs. Cake and that's my husband behind the counter, Mr. Cake."
The white unicorn gave a smiling nod before responding. "Yes, I am! I'm Will Travel. It's a pleasure to meet you both! I couldn't resist coming in when i saw the wonderful design of the building.
"What a polite little stallion you are, Will. I hope you enjoy your time here in Ponyville. Don't be a stranger!" And with that, Mrs. Cake trotted back into the kitchen, leaving the unicorn to his delicious breakfast.
Will finished his tea and snack quietly before thanking the Cakes and leaving. Contently, he hooked himself back up to his cart and trotted toward the inns. He had to make sure he'd have a room tonight. "What wonderful little cafe! I'll have to come back another day." He mused to himself.
Unbeknownst to Will, moments after he left the cafe a pink pony came flying down the stairs, frantically looking around. The mares tail was spinning rapidly in the air as she looked around for something no one else could see.
"Pinkie, sweetie, what's wrong?!" The Cakes said in unison upon seeing the odd display.
"My tail! It's all spinny spin spin spinaroo! That means a new pony is moving into town! Where are they? I have to throw them a Welcome-to-Ponyville party!" The Cakes were too stunned at the frighteningly accurate "Pinkie Pie sense" and sat there in silence. Pinkie Pie, however, refused to wait and put a hunters cap upon her head, pulled from seemingly no where. "I'm off to find ‘em!" With that, she dashed out of Sugar Cube Corner.
"ACHOO!" Will gripped his snout from the sudden force and blinked. “Huh . . . someone must be talking about me." He chuckled softly. The unicorn found himself waiting at a large statue somewhere in the middle of town. Looking up at the town hall, he saw it was noon. "I suppose I'll just wait for Caramel now."
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Thirty minutes later, Caramel came barreling over the horizon, panting as he ran as fast as he could. The earth pony was late as always, and hoped to Celestia that Will would forgive him. The statue came into view and he soon saw Will scuffing a hoof on the ground as if to distract himself.
Will wasn't sure what happened next, but suddenly there was a tan pony practically on top of him, talking a mile a minute, pleading for forgiveness. Without a word, he tenderly patted Caramel on the head. "Caramel, please, take a deep breath. I'm not upset, nor do you have to explain why you're late. You're here now and that's all that matters, okay?"
The earth pony took several deep breaths before he recovered and nodded gently to Will. "I . . . oh . . . Will . . . thank you for not being upset!" His ears perked up, the pony must have had an idea. "O . . . of course! I'll show you around town to make it up to you!"
Caramel carted will all over town, showing him all the various places worth mentioning in Ponyville. "And that's Carrot Top. She sells the best carrots in Ponyville. Oh oh! And this . . ." The earth pony made a motion toward the white gate that they stood in front of. ". . . is Sweet Apple Acres, the best place in town for apples! Come on I'll introduce you to my Co---my . . . my friend who lives here."
It only took a few moments for the pair to trot up to a large farm house past the orchard, where a red stallion was bucking at one of the few trees with apples left in its branches. The stallion’s seemingly blank expression brightened at the sight of Caramel, and then shifted to curiosity upon seeing the unicorn beside him. Big Macintosh was about to the speak to the pair, but Caramel knew what he was going to ask and cut him off. "Mac, this is Will Travel, Will this is Big Macintosh my . . ."
"I'm his coltfriend." Said the stalwart stallion. Unlike his partner Macintosh wasn't going to lie or divert the truth of the matter, much to Caramel's horror.
The timid pony reared up to guard himself from some kind of punishment, but instead felt Will's gentle warmth and a hoof around his neck. All the earth pony could manage to say was: "Will, y-you're okay with me being . . ."
Will cut him off before letting Caramel beat himself up. "Pfffft, what does it matter if we are, Caramel? You're my friend and I would never hate you for who you love. We . . . are friends aren't we?" The last part seemed to take on a stern tone, which Caramel quickly took notice of.
"Will . . . of course we are!" The two shared a hearty hug before Big mac coughed and hefted up a basket of apples.
"Dinner'll be soon. If ya'll would help me get these into the house, we can all get better acquainted, alright?"
Caramel tried hard to lift up a basket himself, but only tipped the apples out. Thankfully for him, Will was able to use his magic and lift up the remaining baskets, including the tipped one. The three ponies got everything in order before sitting in the living room. It wasn't until just then Caramel realized Will's words. "Did he say ‘we’? But that means . . ." The pony said, pondering under his breath.
"Macintosh, ya'll get them apples Granny Smith asked fer?" An orange mare asked, stopping the thoughts anypony else might have. A spry little filly was in tow with the orange pony. The pair caught sight of Will and trotted closer. "Shoot, Macintosh, why didn't ya'll tell me we had company!" She asked before playfully smacking her big brothers side. "I'm Applejack, and this'n here is Applebloom. It's a pleasure to meet ya!"
"Thank you, I'm Will, Will Travel" The unicorn stood up only to be assaulted by Applejack’s hearty hoof shake. Will thought his hoof was going to come flying off, but much to his relief the shake did not last for long, and left his hoof with only a little sting.
"Will, Will, Will! Are ya'll gonna stay for dinner?" Applebloom asked, bouncing excitedly between the older ponies. The unicorn looked at the Apple siblings silently for some form of answer.
"Eeeyup" Was all Big Macintosh said before his sister chimed in.
"That's right! We here at Sweet Apple Acres treat our friends with the best hospitality!"
Suddenly, from the kitchen came the old creaky frame of the family's caretaker. Granny Smith slowly made her way into the dinning room, sitting herself down before looking at all the ponies in the room. "S-soups on . . . everypony!"
Dinner was in full swing and everypony was happily enjoying it all. Pleasant conversation swayed back and forth between everyone. "So where ya from, sugarcube?" Spoke Applejack once she had eaten a good portion of her supper.
"I was born and raised in Manehattan." Everyone at the table seemed shocked from the reply. Perhaps, he thought, they assumed Will would be more snooty with such a birthplace. Before they could ask Will spoke out. "I don't like how the ponies act there. It never felt like home to me. It's why I left and started to travel."
"Speaking of that, what made you move to Ponyville, Will?" Caramel asked. Immediately he regretted doing so, as everyone suddenly looked at him.
"I . . . it's just a visit, I'm afraid." He originally hadn't planned to admit such a thing until it was too late to do anything about it. "I told you I left Manehattan. Well, it's because the city didn't feel like home to me. I've spent the last year or two traveling all over Equestria to find just that: a home. I spend about a week or two in each town before I decide whether to move on or not."
Caramel looked like he was about to cry from Will's response. Will immediately regretted saying anything about his "plan" now, but he tried to cheer Caramel up before it was too late. "B-but, I have to say I've been happier here than most towns I visit. I think the chances of me staying are pretty good. i just need some more time to decide is all." He added hastily.
The response seemed to go over well, and Will could see his friend calming down before another voice spoke up. "Well shoot, sugarcube, we just need to show you how great Ponyville is and ya'll stay? That'd be as easy as bucking apples from a tree!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lunas moon stood tall in the sky as Will and Caramel left Sweet Apple Acres, the pair trotting in silence beside one another. The tension was starting to creep up between the pair, but it wasn’t until they got to the outer fence that finally Caramel spoke up. "Will . . . earlier today you said "we" when Big Mac told you I was his . . . coltfriend. Does that mean what I think it does?"
"Yes, Caramel, I'm a colt cuddler myself. But even if I wasn't, I like you for who you are, not who you date." Will could see that that wasn't the only thing on his mind before he patted the earth pony again. "Look . . . about my staying or going . . . I'll give it some hard consideration, okay? Now you'd better scoot. You have work in the morning, right?"
“R-right” The pair said their goodbyes and hugged one another before each went his separate way. Will let out a sigh of exhaustion, but a smile soon crept upon his face.
The ponies in town were nice, polite and seemed to care about more than just what fashion was in this week. "Maybe . . ." He said as he went back to his room at the inn.
Unknown to him, a strange pink mare was peering at the unicorn from behind a bush. She glared, squinting at the monochrome pony. The mare started to sink back into the bush, and as she did so, she uttered a single word, “Soon”
*AUTHORS NOTES* It concerns Caramel and macintosh as a couple. now alot of people say they are related and this and that, but it's all personal opinion honestly. For me, they are not related and there for nothing odd is going on. Caramel for one, doesn't have an apple based cutie mark like all the ponies in the apple family do. Two even if he was a relative, i imagine he'd have to be a fruit related one for that to be a legit answer. IE: Uncle and aunt orange.
The last point is pretty simple, we all have our thoughts on which pony is with who and what not. For myself, that's Caramel x Macintosh and that's what i like. i apologize if it's not your head fannon and all that.
