Protolgue: Opening up shop
"Hmm".
I said as I looked at Ponyville from afar. My new home where most terrible things happen.
I was dressed in a brown cloak and a blue hat. I pulled my wagon along the dusty road.
I walked pass the Everfree Forest. It's dark presence and the fact that inside it somewhere the Elements and Tree of Harmony made it very well known.
"Better make sure to avoid that". I said as my wagon wheel fell off.
"Oof". I looked at the damage. It wasn't pretty it would take me an awful lot of bits to fix it. Not to mention that my type of job didn't pay well but I wouldn't trade it for all the gold in Canterlot.
"Darn that's the 4th time you've broken down this month and y'all know I don't have enough bits to fix ya". I said angrily my country accent slipping through.
"I guess since you've been travelling so long, that you call your wagon a living thing am I not wrong"?
I turned around and saw a zebra carrying a lot of potions in her saddlebags.
"No you ain't wrong". I said shrugging. "When you've been travelling for a long time a wagon is more than a just a wagon but I'm going to have to let her go soon since I'm finally settling down".
"Oh that is good, but I suspect that there is more to you under that hood".
"Well I'm a story teller by trade and don't get me wrong I love it but like I need to settle down before time starts to catch up to me".
"Well perhaps if I help you, you can back to my hut for some brew"?
"Well I'll be mighty thankful for that miss"?
"Zecora is my name, and brewing potions is my game".
"My name is Lucario and again thank you kindly".
"That is an interesting name you say, come my hut is this way".
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After leaving Zecora's hut and telling her the story of the Zebstrikers (She loved it) I started heading off to Ponyville.
I looked around the countryside in awe of all the red apple trees.
"MONSTER'"!!!
I looked in the direction off the shouts to find ponys running over into the houses.
I sighed. Every time in a new town. The monster scream, hiding in houses and the mistrust of the local ponys.
"Hold it right there".
I turned around to see the Hero's of Equestria bearing the Elements of Harmony looking dangerously angry.
Blissful ignorance don't fail me now.
"Hello how nice to see some friendly faces, now could you tell me where the vacant house I'm moving into is"?
The six ponys and dragon looked confused.
"I want to get inside before the monster that everyone is making a fuss over is comes this way".
"You're the monster though"? Rainbow dash said still looking confused.
"Im not a monster". I said pretending to be insulted.
"But your some kind of deformed diamond dog". Twilight said.
Then it hit me. I had left my cloak at Zecora's.
"Well that's very insulting". I said crossing my arms.
Time to teach these ponys a lesson. I thought.
"Oh are those the Elements of Harmony"? I said grabbing the Element of Magic with my aura magic.
The ponys looked shocked and a little scared.
"Whoops". I said throwing the Elements back to the tree of Harmony.
"Honestly". I say shaking my head walking to my new house. "Ponys these days".
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I looked around my new shop. My shop was an antique shop with a bar and food all homemade.
My house had two levels. I had made the bottom level my shop and the top one was my home.
The layout had the retro bar in the top left corner. I had a book shelf and reading corner in the bottom right corner.
It was a cosy little shop and I finally felt as if I had a place here. My shop was called Escapism.
I walked up to the front door and put up the open sign.
"Now all I have to do is wait". I said thinking out loud.
I didn't have to wait long.
Applejack and a filly (probably her sister) came walking in.
Applejack looked around in awe and then frowned when she saw me.
"Come on Applebloom". She said grabbing the filly's hoof. "We're leaving".
"Aww sis can't I just look around"? She said doing the puppy dog eyes.
"Fine". Applejack said frowning." But we got to go soon to sell some apples".
"Okay". She trotted up to me with her sister close behind.
"Hello mister". She said grinning a childish grin. "I'm Applebloom".
"Hello Miss Applebloom". I said shaking her hoof with my paw pretending to not notice Applejack's death stares. "I'm Lucario and welcome to my shop".
"But if this is your shop where do you live"?
"I live on the second floor makes things easy to get to work". I say chuckling.
"I bet it does". She said smiling an innocent smile.
"Would you like a drink"? I ask smiling back.
"Ma sister's to young to drink alcohol". Applejack said casting a bitter look.
"None of my drink are alcoholic except the cider and even then it's 5% alcohol and I only sell it to customers that can legally prove their of age not to metion that i cut them off if they've had to much".
She nodded at me even casting a little smile. Even though she didn't like me she likes the rules here at will protect her sister.
"I'll get you a chocolate milk". I say winking Applebloom.
I fill up a mug of frosty chocolate milk and pass it to Applebloom.
"How much"? Applejack says reaching into her bit pouch.
"1 bit for the chocolate milk". I say wiping the bench.
She puts the bit on the bench and looks at Applebloom who has a ring of chocolate froft around her mussel.
I hand her a tea towel. She looks at me confused. "So you can wipe the froft of her mussel". She nodded in understanding.
"Applejack stop it". Applebloom whines.
"Would you like to walk out here with chocolate milk on your face or your big sister wipe your face clean"?
"Exactly". Applejack says finishing her cleaning.
"Mister can I ask you a question"? Applebloom says with the curious face only a child can make.
"Of course".
"Why is your shop called Escapism"?
I smiled a sweet smile. I always had a dream for this shop and on the first day of opening it a little filly was asking me about it.
"My shop is call Esacpism because of what I want it to be".
They both look at me confused.
"I don't want my shop to be a place where you just go to buy something"." I want my shop to be a place where ponys can escape their problems, listen to one of my tales or two and have a good drink". "That's why this is going to be the only one of its kind". "I want my shop to be a place where ponys can just let loose or talk to me". "That's why my shop is called Escapism so ponys and other creatures have a place to escape from the world and just relax".
They both smile at me.
"I also tell storys from my old trade as a travelling story teller so if you bring your friends over I can tell you a story if you want". I say smiling.
"Really"? Applebloom said grinning.
"Really". I say chuckling at her enthusiasm.
"Come on Applejack we gotta sell some apples quickly so i can get Sweetie Belle and Scooterloo". Applebloom said running off.
"Thanks". Applejack said smiling a genuine smile. "Maybe you ain't so bad".
She leaves following Applebloom into the market.
I smile looking out the door. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Author's Note
End of chapter 1
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