First (full body) Contact
The wind is a fantastic thing. A presence that everypony who has ever lived knows about and can feel every day. It speeds up and slows down at will, engulfing everything and yet nothing as it races across the world. The wind spreads pollen and seeds, creates great waves in the oceans, and keeps pegasi, like me, high in the sky.
I love the wind, so much so that I've devoted my life to it, in a way. Back in my youth I spent more time soaring through the air than I did socializing with my peers. After flight school graduation, with no cutie mark and no idea where I fit in, I walked my way to the edge of Cloudsdale and looked out at the sky. Witnessing the strength of the wind as it pushed my mighty hometown across Equestria, I realized what I needed to do. Without a word to my family or friends, something I feel guilty for at times, I jumped from Cloudsdale and rode the breeze all through the night. That's when a gust of wind appeared on my flank, and I've lived by the wind ever since.
It has only been a few years since I took to the skies, but I've seen so much. Wherever the strong gusts take me is where I live and thrive. I work odd jobs in any town I encounter, stay just long enough to make myself known, then spend any meager savings I have earned on food and essentials before returning to the wind. It has shown me great mountains and valleys, forests of darkness and cities of crystal, the riches of Manehatten and the charms of Appleloosa. Of course, the wind has returned me to Cloudsdale more than once, where I visit my loved ones and meet up with old friends. Each time they ask me why I won't return home, and each time I just smile and respond in the same way. The wind is my home, and I know in my heart that it will show me where I am destined to be.
All this alone time has gotten me sentimental, and has almost made me miss a small town beneath my hooves. The colors are what stole my attention away from the sky in front of me, a cluster of buildings that includes every color from tan and brown to vibrant red and green. I don't recognize this place, which fills me with excitement at what I might find down there, and who I might meet. My old friend the wind is slow and cool today, a perfect breeze for diving down to the earth. I make sure not to lose my saddlebags on the way down, even though they aren't filled with more than a few bits and souvenirs from my favorite places I've found. Intent on making an entrance worth remembering, I spiral straight down before flaring out my wings to bleed some velocity. My hooves collide with soft, dirt road a little harder than was comfortable, creating a small cloud of dust around me.
"Whoa!" I hear a voice squeal from behind me. As I turn to meet the noise, a small pegasus filly enters my view. Her purple mane is covered by a purple helmet, and she stands on a small blue scooter. "That was an awesome landing! Who are you, mister?" She asks.
I offer the filly a smirk and extend a hoof. "Swift Wing, at your service. What's your name, and where have I landed?" She just stares at me for a minute, then smirks back and bumps my hoof with her own.
"I'm Scootaloo, and you're in Ponyville!" She squints, as if confused about something. "Hey mister, why does your hair look like that? You don't look old."
That makes me laugh for a while. My silvery mane and tail have often been the topic of my conversations with strangers. While my deep green coat is an heirloom from my father, the reason for my mane has always been a mystery. This filly isn't the first to question me on the color, but she is certainly the most blunt. I don't mind, it's actually refreshing in comparison to the timid ponies who are afraid they'll offend me by asking.
"That's just the way it was when I was born, Scootaloo. Makes me who I am, just like your mane and tail." I know it sounds cheap and sentimental, but it's what my parents always told me, and at some point I accepted it as truth.
Scootaloo's wings start to flap up and down so fast that they seem to buzz, but she never leaves the ground. I wouldn't dare ask the filly if she can fly, but I suspect she cannot. "Well, I need to get to school, but I'll see you later, Mr. Swift!" She turns around and kicks off the ground, sending herself and the scooter shooting down the street.
That went well. I can only hope that everypony in this town is as inviting and friendly as the filly speeding away from me. My stomach growls, and I look around the place where I have touched down. I see buildings with varying signs and displays out in front, which probably means I've found the business hub of Ponyville. Other ponies go about their lives without noticing me, notably a mint green earth pony mare beside a cream colored mare with pink and purple hair, as well as a low-flying pegasus carrying saddle bags overflowing with envelopes. My eyes see no advertisements of food, so I decide to walk further into town.
A short trot in search of something to eat leads me to a sort of town square, surrounded by buildings on all sides with a fountain in the center. In the middle of the fountain stands a statue of Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria. I stare at the stone homage for just a moment, but when my gaze returns to the ground in front of me, a pink earth pony with an ear-to-ear smile is charging towards me.
Before I can even think of saying hello, the mare bowls over me. When the initial shock wears off, I find myself on my back with the pink mare standing over me. Despite some pain on the back of my head and common sense, I don't feel threatened. She strikes me as young and cute, her puffy mane framing a round face with piercing blue eyes, just like mine. Again beating me to the punch, she greets me with an alarming amount of energy.
"Hey! Super duper sorry I bumped into you there, but I saw you and had to get here as soon as I could! Because I know everypony in Ponyville, but I don't know you, so that must mean you're new here! I'm Pinkie Pie, but all my friends call me Pinkie!" I must be in a daze, because I can't seem to formulate any response. Instead, my stomach rumbles loudly for a second time. I offer the mare an embarrassed smile, which makes her break into a giggling fit. "Hungry, huh? I know just the place where you can get some food. Follow me!"
Without waiting for me to accept her invitation, Pinkie Pie pulls me up and starts bouncing away instead of walking. I take note of her cutie mark as she leaves, a trio of balloons. Nothing she has done thus far makes me trust her, and I'm more than a little confused. Briefly I consider just taking off and finding something to eat in another town. I open my wings and prepare to take off, but suddenly a breeze picks up. With surprise I find that the breeze points almost directly towards Pinkie Pie.
The wind has lead me to all kinds of places, but it has never once lead me astray. I take the breeze as a sign to stick around for a while, shrug, and follow after the bouncing pink mare.
Author's Note
Every story needs a prologue, right? Most of the chapters will be far longer than this, and less backstory and introspection dense. Thanks for the read, and stay tuned!
