The Lost Firefly

As Firefly began trotting into Ponyville, the first thing she noticed were ponies staring at her and whispering to the pony next to them. Obviously they haven't forgotten what happened years ago, but who would? Her parents killed innocent ponies and turned them into teddy bears. They might think that she would do the same. However, Firefly ignored their judgements and carried on walking towards the town hall. She was hoping to find a cheap house to live in, and if she didn't have enough bits than she would go and find a job. Firefly had planned what she was going to do.

Entering the town hall, she found Mayor Mare signing some papers. Firefly fixed her mane so she would look a bit more professional, and then walked towards her. When the Mayor saw Firefly, her pupils went small and she stepped back a little, then gulped a lump in her throat.

"Hi there." Firefly greeted. "I'm looking for a place to stay!"

"O-Oh, are you..?" The Mayor darted her eyes left and right. "Well, er... A-Are you sure you want to live here..?"

"Yeah!" Firefly grinned. "This is the friendliest place in Equestria, isn't it?"

"Y-Yes, it... It is..." Mayor Mare looked to the ground.

"Is there a house I can get for fifty bits?" Firefly rustled her hoof in her saddle bag, and then took out a small bag filled with bits.

"F-Fifty?" The Mayor choked. "No, there isn't. Sorry." She let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh..." Firefly put her pouch back into her bag. "Well, is there any job openings anywhere?"

The Mayor's ears perked up. "Not that I've heard of."

"Oh. I'll look around, then. Thanks!" Firefly turned and exited the town hall. The Mayor swiped some sweat off of her forehead, hoping that no one gives her a job.

Firefly skipped down the town, looking left and right for a place to work. She had asked the dentists, the spa and the hat shop, but they all declined despite two of them having a 'employees wanted' sign on their doors. They seemed scared of Firefly, but she thought that they just need to get used to her. It wasn't her that killed the ponies anyway.

As she was walking around, she came across her old house. It was still condemned after all these years. Looking up at it, Firefly slumped down and sighed. This was where it all happened. If only she knew, then she would have turned them in. Firefly looked to the ground, and tears started forming from her eyes. She sniffled, before noticing that somepony put their hoof on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" The pink earth pony smiled. "You look sad."

Firefly looked at the earth pony, and saw that it was that mare that helped arrest her mom. "D-Does e-everyone s-still remember..?"

"Seems so." Pinkie Pie sat next to her. "But don't worry! Once they see that you're a good pony, they'll change their mind about you!"

"What d-do they t-think about me..?" Firefly wiped her eyes.

"They think that you might be like your mom and dad! But I told them that you aren't! I asked them to give you a chance!" Pinkie Pie laughed.

"I-I'm trying to find a job..." Firefly stuttered. "But t-they're s-scared of me..."

"You can work at my place! Sugar Cube Corner!" Pinkie cheered. "And I'll be your first friend!"

"R-Really?" Firefly hiccuped.

"Yeah! It'll be fun! You can start in an hour! I'll see you there! Just remember to smile!"

Firefly turned to speak, but Pinkie was already gone. She smiled softly, still having tears trickling down her face. She looked up at the torn building she used to live in, and she smiled wider. She got up, wiped her face and then trotted off.

An hour passed and Firefly had arrived at Sugar Cube Corner. When she entered, she expected for any other worker that works there to be scared of her, but as she walked in, everything was calm.

"You must be the new worker Pinkie told us about." Said a blue mare. "My name is Mrs Cake and this is my husband Mr Cake."

"N-Nice to meet you." Firefly nodded, walking further into the room rather then lingering in the corner.

"Oh! You're here!" Pinkie cheered, hugging Firefly. "Mr and Mrs Cake, meet Firefly!"

"Nice to meet you, Firefly." Mr Cake smirked, and then rushed into the kitchen.

"Why don't we get you started? You can help Pinkie bake the goods." Mrs Cake stood by the cash register.

"I don't know how to bake." Firefly informed her.

"I'll teach you how!" Pinkie chirped.

Pinkie and Firefly baked some cupcakes together and set them in the front of the shop. Customers started piling in, but when Firefly stepped out of the kitchen to put the second batch out on display, the line of ponies in front of the register ran out of the bakery. For hours they didn't have a single customer, and when it was closing time all four ponies turned to each other.

"Strange." Mrs Cake sighed. "We didn't have a single customer since the second set of cupcakes came out. What happened?"

Firefly immediately looked down to the ground. Pinkie Pie saw her sorrow. "Maybe they weren't hungry." Pinkie shrugged, smiling at Firefly.

"But this has never happened before." Mr Cake pointed out.

"I-I'm sorry, it's my fault." Firefly tried not to cry.

"It's not your fault." Pinkie put her hoof on her shoulder. "They just need to get used to you. Once they do-"

"Pinkie, they'll probably never get used to me." Firefly sniffled. "It's hopeless."

"Please, just try and prove yourself." Pinkie's smile almost faded away. "So what if ponies don't come to the bakery for a few days? Sooner or later they will realise that you mean no harm! They will!"

Firefly nodded. "I'll give it a try, then..."