A green pegasus stallion walked down the path exhausted from walking since sunrise in the morning. He looked up at the orange sky to the setting sun beyond the tree line. While walking through the apple orchard, he felt a pang of hunger. The big red apples dangling from their branches looked juicy and delicious. He trotted over to a shorter tree and jumped to pluck an apple from its perch. The fruit was gone with only a few bites. It didn't completely satisfy his appetite, but it would do for the time being. With food out of the way his attention turned to his other need, sleep.
He continued down the path, soon coming across a big barn in the distance. He trotted to the spacious barn filled with farming tools, and hay bales. He found a comfortable patch of hay stuffed in a corner of the middle left pin. Nathan walked to the patch and lay down on it. Slowly the world faded from focus. The stallion began to dream that he was starting in a race. It was him versus a light green Pegasus with a light blue mane. The light green mare hunched low, ready.
When the call was raised the two shot off of the starting line. The malachite Pegasus pulled the lead early on. Flying at high speeds the mare was closing the gap. Looking back the stallion could see the mare about to dart by. Switching directions, he flew in front of her to block her pass. She then fell farther behind slowing down not to collide. He chuckled lightly at the pony trying to catch up. A sharp caw drew his attention to the flock of birds he was about to crash into. Reacting as swiftly as he could he turned his wings to catch more air in an effort to stop. The stallion shook his head regaining his stability. Looking up he noticed he had lost the race. The malachite Pegasus crossed the finish line only a few seconds later. The mare was still laughing when he felt a sharp cold sensation ripping him from his dream. When he opened his eyes he was greeted by an orange earth pony with a blonde mane and a stetson, who was standing over him with an empty bucket.
"Who are ya, and what are ya doin' here?" the mare angrily yet cautiously asked with a southern twang.
"I... I'm Nathan Blake, I needed a place to sleep last night. I have been traveling a lot lately. And I needed a place to stay because of all the traveling I have been doing. I was tired so I came in here." he replied pushing his, now wet, dark brown mane out of his green eyes realizing he repeated himself multiple times.
"As long as you didn't mess with any of our belongin's, you're fine."
"I didn't, I just took refugee in your barn for the night," Nathan stepped back.
"It's all fine now, but did'ya really think it was smart to trespass without permission?"
Nathan winced, then went to pick up his white bags.
"If you don't mind me askin'. Why is your wing all bandaged up? Are you injured?" the southern pony asked, eyes locked on the right wing fixed in an open position.
"It's a long story, you don't want to hear it," Nathan trying to avoid the topic.
"Oh yes'ah do! Least you can do for trespassin," she demanded.
"Alright, I'll try to sum it up. I left Cloudsdale at age twenty for a relaxing vacation. While flying over a forest, a thunderstorm formed out of nowhere. I tried to clear it but no cloud would budge. Being struck by lightning, the sudden pain knocked me out sending me crashing into a tree branch. The branch impaled my wing severing some nerves and muscles in it. I woke up in a hospital with two nurses and a doctor to my sides a few days later. The doctor told me that I wouldn’t be able to live in Cloudsdale properly anymore. With only one wing I wouldn’t be able to get around without somepony to fly me. I wouldn't be able to get to my job anymore. I had to leave. I sent a letter to my parents and walked back to Cloudsdales' edge, staring at it high in the sky. My best friend Shooting Star was waiting for me and flew down when she saw me coming in the distance. We discussed a bit of what was going to happen. I told her I was leaving home with most of my stuff still there. My parents said I could somehow get my belongings when I get a place of my own. For the rest of that spring day we sat in the field below Cloudsdale and talked about our past. We were always together when we were children. Everywhere she went, I went. Everywhere I went, she did. One of us gotten into trouble, we both got into trouble. If I had gotten sick then she would become my nurse. That evening, when the sky was a bright orange, I gathered my little bit of stuff which Star brought me. I hugged her and said my... goodbye to my friend... she then flew back to Cloudsdale. I went on my traveling way. So, that’s it… well, part of it I should say." Nathan looked away from the orange pony, afraid she would laugh at his voice cracking up.
The orange mare stared at Nathan feeling sorry for him. "Sorry to hear that,” she said. "My name's Applejack. Nice to meet you. Um... Are you hungry, Nathan? Let’s get you some food in that belly!"
Nathan Looked back at her. “Well, I kinda am.” His words were broken at the sound of his stomach growling.
"Let’s go get you some pie. Granny just baked one and I'm sure she won’t mind if you have some" Applejack said turning while laughing at the noise of his stomach.
She started to trot to the house with Nathan following. Nathan looked around as the two trotted to their destination. He saw three fillies running and playing. It reminded him how Mystic Charge would chase him while playing tag. Applejack and Nathan walked inside the decent sized kitchen. Walking to the table Applejack cut him a slice of pie, freshly baked. She turned around and spoke.
"Here ya go! A pie that taste like no other!"
"Thank you Applejack. Care if i ask where the market is in town? Maybe I can get a job somewhere or at least buy some supplies."
"Just walk down the main path into town, and go straight at the intersection. You'll reach the market in no time."
"I'll... see ya later then," Nathan said, throwing his bags back on.
Nathan walked outside of the country house. The three fillies that were playing together before were waiting for him to come outside and watched him as he past. He trotted down the path leaving the open farmland, the fillies following him. The town was in view from the hill with a huge crystal tree towering over the home of several hundred ponies. He looked behind him while walking, they were still following him. They smiled at him. He stopped and turned around to face them annoyed at being followed. He stared at them as they stared back. A word wasn't spoken until the white filly unicorn spoke up.
"Hi mister!" was eagerly said with a crack in her voice.
Nathan stared at her wondering what they wanted then asked "Hey?" Everything was quiet once again.
The orange Pegasus asked "What's your name?"
"Nathan Blake," he replied.
"Mine’s Scootaloo."
"Okay." the stallion replied.
The yellow earth pony said "I'm Applebloom".
The white unicorn jumped in "I'm Sweetie Belle, nice to meet you!" Her voice cracking again.
Nathan, loosening up now, said "Nice to meet the three of you. Why are you following me?"
Scootaloo jumped in the air excitedly flapping her wings and quickly float down to said. "We never seen you before and want to talk.”
"I am kind of busy right now. How about this, I will talk to you guys later because right now I'm walking to the town market to see if any stalls are hiring? Okay?”
"Alright" said the fillies, lowering their heads in disappointment.
With the fillies taken care of, the stallion continued to trot down the dirt path. A few minutes later he reached the edge of town named Ponyville. Nathan stared at the buildings. He paid close attention to the beautiful yet simple architecture while continuing to trot towards the market. The market was pretty busy to be only nine fifty-three in the morning, according to a clock in a stall he peeked in. Nathan walked all around the market asking everypony if they were hiring. An hour later Nathan gave up, nopony needs help or anything in the subject of a job, some of the ponies just ignored him altogether.
Nathan sighed "Maybe I can at least rent a room and pay it off." Nathan walked up behind a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane. She seemed to be speaking to a bunny, which Nathan thought was ridiculous.
He nudged her side, "Miss?” The yellow pegasus leaped in the air from fear. When she landed, she turned around looking terrified. Nathan asked the other pegasus whee the local inn was. He noticed she was shaking and slowly getting lower to the ground beneath her. She slowly pointed at a dark brown building down the street next to the market. Nathan thanked her then trotted towards the building the Pegasus pointed at while thinking about the strange yellow Pegasus. Nathan walked inside the decorated lobby of the inn.
The older innkeeper walked to the desk "Hello, welcome to the Sleepy Filly! I am Miss Akioto, how can I help you?”
Nathan replied with a smile. "Is there any chance you are hiring? I just arrived in town and need a place to stay. I was hoping I could work for a room, I don’t have the money to stay at an inn."
The innkeeper thought for a moment making Nathan nervous, then said "We do not normally do that for strangers; However, you look like you are capable of work and my other business is down an employee” The mare looked at his wing for a brief second. “Talk to me tomorrow morning before noon. I want you to get to know the basic layout of the town. Maybe you can ask somepony to give you a tour around the town. Or if you want I am pretty sure there is a map lying around. It is up to you."
Nathan happily replied, "Alright, thank you so much, miss".
He walked out through the inns double mahogany doors. A grey Pegasus with a tan to light yellow mane and bubbles as her cutie mark was slowly walking by. He trotted over to the mailmare.
"Hello Ma'am. Do you have a map of the town?" She has beautiful eyes, Nathan stared. Her eyes were bright yellow, they stand out from her coat.
"A map?" she dug her head into her delivery bag. Mail letters were falling out of them. "Wait here!" she gasped as her eyes separated from each other. Wings springing open, the mare took off flying into the distance.
"WAIT!" Nathan yelled into the sky. He sighed then started to walk towards city hall. If any place has a map, it'll be city hall. A half hour later, Nathan was at his destination walking to the mayors’ desk. It had a golden nameplate that had Mayor Mare etched on it.
"Hello, I don't think we've met. I am Mayor Mare, Mayor of Ponyville. How can I be of assistance to you?"
"Miss mayor, I was wondering if you have a map of your town. Miss Akioto told me to get one"
"Ah, the inn keeper. We sure do! Let me see..." she started scrambling around the room searching every drawer and folder. "AHA! Here you are," she appeared from a pile of papers.
Nathan took the map thanking the mayor while staring at the dusty old map. He was trotting quickly out of the office, nearly walking into a wall.
Nathan put the map up and looked at the lobby clock. It was three in the afternoon. Nathan didn't have much time to explore Ponyville. The map pointed out several locations: City Hall, Sugar Cube Corner, Sweet Apple Acres, Golden Oaks Library, Everfree Forest, and the School-House, the market, the day spa, the cafe and Carousal Boutique. Nathan walked over to a close by glass table and looked at the map again. Sugar Cube Corner is next I suppose. Nathan set off in the direction of the building. Nathan strolled as he looked up at the sky. It was bright blue, with no clouds in view. A light breeze blew through Nathans mane.
A cyan Pegasus flew quickly overhead leaving a rainbow trail vanishing in sight. I wish I could still fly like that. Nathan looked back as he tried to move his broken wing failing to budge it, even a little. “Yeah. Didn’t think so.” He looked back at the path in front of him. It seemed like he hasn't walked much distance.
He started to watch all the other ponies in the area as he walked. They were happy and carefree. No pony else could imagine if they couldn't use magic on their daily lives, or were bound to the ground. Never knowing the pain it causes to hear the bones in your body breaking and crunching. The pain of seeing your own bones stick out of you. It's for the better if they never know what that’s like Nathan thought, It can change the life of ponies if they know it. Nathan became aware of his surroundings. He was daydreaming and wasn't looking where he was walking like he often does.
He bumped into the grey mailmare from earlier, knocking her down. Now on her side, she raised her head and shook it. Her eyes went wall eyed once again.
Nathan reached out his hoof to help her up. "I'm sorry for that. I wasn't paying attention. Are you alright?" She grabbed his hoof to be lifted up.
"I just don't know what went wrong." She said as she got off the ground.
"It was my fault, I’m so-"
"Hey!" Her facial expression changed from confusion to angry, her eyes now focused on Nathan "Aren't you the pony looking for the map? Why'd you leave!? I told you to wait!"
"I thought you flew off for no reason."
"I forgot to deliver something important. I had a map!" Her tone sounded like she was calming down getting sadder even. She continued to speak "Should've known better. Nopony ever wants help from me."
"Whoa, I never said that! Sorry about hurting your feelings. Nathan Blake, nice to meet ya!" He held out a hoof.
She grabbed his hoof to shake. "Ditzy Doo, or Derpy by some. Has anypony ever told you your name is weird?"
"Umm... no. What was that nonsense you just said about? Why doesn't anypony ever want help from you?"
"Because whenever I do help, the other ponies say that I broke it, or make it worst. I try my best each time. I just think nopony likes me because I’m different. I'm just... I’m just a big doofus! Whenever I mess-up, It's not my fault. I was born like this, like everypony is supposed to hate. My cutie mark shouldn't be bubbles. It should be a symbol of hate, or for hate... I don't get it." The poor Pegasus broke into light tears "I don't understand a lot of things, but I really don't understand this. I'm always being picked on."
Nathan, now understanding why she was mad at him for leaving, said sadly and a bit angry, "Enough of this, don't let what any other pony think bring you down! Just be happy with what you can do and who you are. To cheer you up, I'm taking you to this Sugar Cube Corner and buy you a treat."
Ditzy smiled a little as the tears thinned a bit, "Really?"
Walking to Sugar Cube Corner, the two talked about miscellaneous topics to get to know each other . It didn't seem long to reach the store. Nathan opened the door to let Ditzy walk in. They walked to the counter.
"What’s your favorite treat? I have twenty bits on me."
Ditzy instantly replied "MUFFIN!!!! Blue-berry muffins!"
"A muffin it is then," He replied in laughter.
The mare walked up to the counter "Can I help you?"
"Uh, yeah. Can I have a blue-berry muffin an..." Nathan looked on the shelf. "Ooh, a cupcake!"
"That'll be twelve bits." Nathan handed her the bits.
The mare handed Nathan the treats, "Thank you ma'am"
"If you like the cupcake, come back when Pinkie Pie is here. She makes the best cupcakes!"
"Okay, I will do that." The two customers walked out smiling.
They both took a seat on a nearby bench. While continuing their conversation from earlier they ate their snacks. Ditzy ate her muffin quickly. Nathan was eating slowly as he thought.
"Thanks for the muffin Nathan. Nopony ever treated me like this"
"No problem. Happy to see you smile."
"Well, I really appreciate it so much. I'll see you later! BYE!"
"Wait! Before you leave, I want to ask if I can call you 'Muffins'. I mean you love muffins so much and your other name gives off a negative impression that is not you." Nathan blinked several times due to dust.
"Muffin huh? I like it! Thank you Nathan. Catch you later some time" She said flying off slowly.
Nathan smiled saying goodbye to his new friend. Sitting back down Nathan continued his thought about what he will do once he has some money saved up. He has been all around Ponyvilles surrounding areas. Should I stay here in this small town for a while? He looked up at the sky. It's getting pretty dark. Might as well head back to the Inn. Nathan finished his snack and stood up from the wooden bench. Back at the Inn lobby, he goes behind the counter and grabbed the key Miss Akioto left in his new mailbox. The metal tab on the key-chain has D-24 engraved on it. Alright, fourth floor twenty-fourth room. Nathan walked up the creaking wooden steps to his room. Once outside his room he opened the door with the key and walked in. Able to see with the lights on he looked around the room. The first room was the living room. Having a couch to the middle right side of the room against the half wall that separated the living room with the kitchen to Nathans right. A short coffee table sat slightly crooked in front of the couch with a few assorted magazines on it not stacked. A bookshelf sat beside the living chair in the corner complemented the rooms natural wooden color. To the left of the door was a storage closet. From the Couch on the left was two doors. One to the bathroom, the other to the small single sized bedroom. Nathan jumped on the bed the second he saw it. Turning off the lamp on the beds end table, Nathans vision shifted into blackness as a long sleep was due.
