Dangerous Alchemy

**Dangerous Alchemy

By: Brickbrock24**

Chapter 4

I was just about a mare when I graduated from alchemy school; but it wasn’t until the headmaster handed me my diploma that I really felt like one. I told my parents of my plans for the future, and they liked what they heard. They gave me a small loan so I could buy a train ticket and sustain myself wherever the wind took me. I ended up choosing a choosing a town called Marestone when I was choosing where to go. I really didn’t have any real reason for picking that town, I just happened to point to it when I played a game of Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe.

If there’s one thing I remember about when I arrived at Marestone, it was that I started to open my eyes and pay more attention to the world around me. When I stepped off the train, my nostrils were greeted with a blast of fresh air. I hadn’t breathed air that clean since I was a filly living in Ponyville. I tried not to make that comparison in my mind because thinking of Ponyville would make me think of Nightshade, and I didn’t want to make myself depressed. It was time to be positive and excited. I had a fresh start in a new town, and I intended to make sure my time in Marestone would be enjoyable.

Marestone itself was humble, yet lovely town. It wasn’t anywhere near as big or as populated as Ponyville, but it still had the charms to make me feel at home. The houses were built in a style very similar to the houses of my hometown. There was a school, a library, a couple of stores, and anything else you would find in a basic town.

It felt good to feel grass under my hooves again. The grass in this town was extra soft and ticklish. I looked around. Most of the town was surrounded by beautiful green fields. There was a huge forest that stood to the west of Marestone. As I strolled through the town, I looked and saw a bunch of foals playing in one of the many fields. Seeing them brought back memories. Good memories… I wondered if there would be any good memories to make here.

After I found a place to stay, I started to head to a school to apply for a job there. On the way, I saw a young filly being picked on by a group of about four other ponies her age. The filly being picked on was a little pink unicorn with a curly green mane and tail, and eyes that were like two sparkling sapphires. It wouldn’t have taken a detective to figure out why the filly was being teased, because I immediately noticed that her flank was blank and the flanks of the bullies all had cutie marks. I found myself thinking about Nightshade again. He also didn’t get his cutie mark right away and, in addition to his rather unique eyes, would constantly get teased about it. Even on the day before I left Ponyville, his flank was still as blank as a fresh piece of paper.

I stopped thinking about the past and snapped back into reality. That little filly needed help! She looked like she was about to shed tears from her big blue eyes. As I ran over to help, I realized this was a chance to redeem myself. I couldn’t be there to help Nightshade when he needed me, and I wasn’t about to let that happen again to some filly.

I stood beside the pink filly and chewed the bullies out. I told them to stop tormenting her and to leave her alone. Three of the bullies backed off, but one of them, whom I assumed was the leader of his little group of friends, wouldn’t budge. He just laughed, gloating that he wasn’t afraid of me and how the pink filly next to me was a pathetic loser for needing an adult to fight her battles for her. That’s when I decided to teach that rude little punk and his cronies a lesson - a lesson in alchemy! I opened my and levitated out one of my alchemy creations: Bang Balls. I threw them at the hooves of the bullies. The balls exploded with a small, sparkly flash and emitted a thunderous bang! It definitely did the trick, because those little rascals totally freaked out and bolted.

The next thing I knew, I was being hugged and thanked by the filly I just stood up for. After she released me, I asked her what her name was. She said her name was Candy Corn. I told her my name in return. I then remembered that I was on my way to a job interview at the school and excused myself to leave. But Candy Corn didn’t want to leave me just yet and asked if she could walk with me to the school. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so I let her tag along. During that walk, we got to know each other a little better. I told Candy Corn about my profession as an alchemist. I explained to her that I was originally from Ponyville, then I moved to Manehattan to attend an alchemy school, and then I moved here after I graduated.

From the way Candy Corn stared at me with those starry blue eyes of hers, I could tell she was fascinated by what I was telling her. When we got to the school, I waved Candy Corn goodbye. She smiled, turned around, and went home. I went into the school and found my way to the principal’s office. I can’t recollect the exact questions that they asked me that day, but I do remember that my heart was pounding in my chest the entire time. If I didn’t get this job, how would I spread the joys of alchemy and sustain myself? Luckily, the principal and the other teachers with her seemed interested in what I had to offer, and they hired me!

My day just got better from there. On my way home, I was approached by one of the most handsome stallions I had ever met. I’ve probably said this a bunch of times, and I’ll say it again: I was drop-dead gorgeous back in the day before the accident. The stallion’s name was Treble. He was an orange Earth pony with a luscious blue mane and tail. His eyes were like two plates of gold and his cutie mark was a treble cleft.

I remember how nervous he was talking to me. I don’t think he had ever talked to a pretty mare like me before that point. After we talked for a minute, Treble summoned up all the courage he had in him and asked me if I’d like to have dinner with him. It was so exciting! I’d never been asked to go on a date before. My fluttering heart compelled my mouth to respond with an automatic “Yes!” Treble asked me when a good time would be, and I told him I was free tomorrow evening. After the date plans were arranged, I waved him goodbye and went home.

When I got home that evening, there was a surprise standing at my door. It was Candy Corn, and she was waiting for me. Frankly, I have no idea how she found out where I lived. But I didn’t mind, I knew she wasn’t a predator or anything like that. I asked Candy Corn what she was doing at my house, and her response was that she wanted to thank me again. She said that what I did for her today really meant a lot her. Nopony had ever stood up for her before I moved to Marestone.

I found that hard to believe at first. Was she seriously saying that none of her friends have ever defended her? I asked her this question, but I got no response. She didn’t need to say anything for me to figure out the answer; it was written all over her saddened facial expression. She had no friends. When I realized this, I decided that was going to change that. I put a hoof on her shoulder and told her that if she really didn’t have any friends, it would be my pleasure to be her first. When Candy Corn heard that, joy came in and kicked her sorrow out of her mind. Candy Corn really had a thing for hugs. Seconds later, there she was with her arms around me… again. It was getting really late, so I sent the little unicorn filly home and went to bed. I had a big day ahead of me and I needed all the shut-eye I could get.