The New Pony in Town

The New Pony in Town Chapter two Adjusting

"Time to wake up Vova..."

Vova Lights, the unicorn to set a record for most alcohol consumed at a party, groaned, muttered some barely audible words, then simply shifted a little. She had no desire to wake up, on account of the head-shattering headache she was experiencing.

The worst part was that the cyan mare never had alcohol before, evidenced by the vomit currently in the toilet.

Which also means she had never experienced a hangover before.

"You must get up, you still need to pack your things." A familiar voice insisted to the miserable artist.

"I don wanna...." The unicorn whined.

"Ugh. You are worse than Vinyl." The mare's voice replied in frustration.

"Hey I'm not THAT bad!" Another mare's voice argued. One that Vova presumed to be a certain DJ she knew.

"Yes you are, now help me get her up."

"I don't wanna."

The cyan unicorn could hear the audible face-hoof, as she attempted to resist the urge to kill herself due to the massive hangover she was experiencing.

"Oh! I just got an idea!" The alabaster unicorn said.

"What?"

"We should do it, right on top of her."

"WHAT!?"

She can't be serious! The artist thought to herself.

"You cannot be serious Vinyl!" The first voice, that Vova was now certain to be the DJ's marefriend.

"Oh come on! You know you want to." Vinyl said in a sultry tone.

This was a losing battle, and there was only one way to win.

Before the grey mare could defend herself, the cyan unicorn's hoof shot into the air between the two.

"I'm up, I'm up! Please have your sex somewhere else, just not ON me." The artist groaned, as her vision slowly focused to reveal two mares blushing furiously.

The grey one shook her head clear, and returned to her usual self.

"Good," She then told the groggy, hungover unicorn. "You still need to find a job."

Vova stared at the musician for a full minute, before looking towards the DJ, who only gave a sheepish smile.

At that moment Twilight Sparkle was doing her morning reading, when a loud cry of misery made her jump ten feet into the air and knock over a pile of books.

After she recovered, she scanned her surroundings to find that she couldn't locate the source of the disturbance.

"I wonder where that came from..." She asked aloud.

Back at the home of the various types of artist, Vova was sobbing loudly into her hooves.

It had just all came crashing down on her. Before, she just hoped that it was all a dream. That she would just wake up at HER easel in HER house, and HER faithful servant would greet HER with HER favorite drink. Chocolate milk.

But now, now it was clear. The cyan unicorn couldn't hide from it anymore, it was no dream.

SHE had nothing. And HE had everything.

The emotions just burst free, washing her away in their tide.

Her two best friends exchanged worried looks, as they watched her fall apart right there on the floor.

"I-I have n-nothing!!" She managed to stammer out as she poured forth her tears of sorrow.

Vinyl was the first to act, sitting next to the broken mare, stroking her mane with a sad expression on her face.

Octavia quickly pulled a blanket over her marefriend's best friend. It wasn't the blanket's warmth that was comforting, but the fact that it made the hurting unicorn feel safe.

The alabaster mare had seen this coming. The artist was way too calm the day it happened.

She, in a way, reminded the DJ of Octavia when the two  started to get to know each other.  But that story is for another time.

"I-I just can't b-believe it! W-Why the heck d-did he do it?!?" The cyan mare cried out between sobs.

She missed it all, the art shows, the safe feeling of knowing you don't have to worry, her faithful servant's kindness, all of it.

Never before, had she felt so...

Lost.

She felt the hoof stroking her mane, as a warm feeling washed over her. She turned her gaze up and tried to search through her blurred vision. Slowly the caring expressions of her best friends, came into view.

Lost. But not alone.

The thought echoed through her mind.

More tears arose from her cyan eyes, as she buried her face in the white unicorn's coat. Her body continued to tremble and shake, as she just let it all out.

A hour or so later, when she finally was able to calm down; Vova proceeded to clean herself up, after which they were on their way.

The trio stood in front of their home; which was located right next to the town's library. Which was good, due to the fact that they needed the help of it's librarian.

It was still early in the morning, so the sun was halfway revealed on the horizon, blanketing the town in an orange light. Long shadows arced from various objects and buildings. The air was cool, and clean. It was completly silent, save for the soft hoofsteps of the three mares venturing towards the library.

Inside, the bookish mare was humming to herself, as she placed various books on their correct places on the shelves.

The DJ burst in, causing the bookish mare to jump in surprise releasing all the books she currently held in her magic.

"Hey Twilight!" The alabaster unicorn shouted.

The other two mares flanked the boisterous DJ, wearing small smiles.

"Oh hello Vinyl," The librarian looked past Vinyl to spy Vova and Octavia standing behind her, "and friends. Who have you two brought? I don't recognize her."

The artistic mare stepped forward, semi confidently, as she was not very good at introductions, and answered "I'm Vova Lights, I just moved here."

"Oh! Well I'm Twilight Sparkle, it is nice to meet a new pony in town." The purple mare replied with a smile.

"Me too." The cyan mare replied with a smile.

"So, what do you need at this hour?" Twilight shifted her gaze towards the DJ, who was the most likely to reply.

The alabaster mare stepped forward, and with a smile, said, "This mare needs a job."

The bookish unicorn put a hoof to her chin, then told the trio, "Well Spike already does all the work around here, but I think Rarity has an opening in her boutique."

Vinyl's face lit up at the news, "Great lets go!" She began pushing the mares out the door, including Twilight for some strange reason.

"So why am I coming with you?" The Librarian asked, as the group approached the boutique.

"Three's a crowd, four's a party." The DJ answered with a grin. Octavia face-hoofed, while Vova just nickered. The purple unicorn just sighed, and muttered something about Pinkie.

The four mares opened the door to find it a mess, and to find a certain dress maker entangled in a multitude of fabrics. They hear her saying SOMETHING, but where unable to decipher it through the cloth covering her muzzle.

They all stood there wide-eyed. It wasn't normal for to find the alabaster unicorn like this, as she was always so uptight about the state of her home (except, well, her inspiration room).

A second later they moved to help her, one minute after that, the fashionista was free.

"Thank you so much, you won't believe how uncomfortable that was getting."

"Your welcome. How did you get stuck in the first place?" Twilight asked as she watched her friend shake off the rest of the fabric.

"Oh, I wa- who is this?" The white unicorn inquired at the sight of the artist. Immediately the fashionista got into a more presentable position. Namely standing up. Her whole demeanor reminded the cyan mare of the high society ponies that used to go to her art shows. There was something different about her though, and the artistic mare could quite put her hoof on.

"I'm Vova Lights, I just moved here." The cyan mare said with a smile.

"I am Rarity, it is such a pleasure to meet you. Now what brings you to my-" The dress maker began to say, before she was interrupted by Vinyl.

"Wait, first tell us how you got all tangled up." The DJ told her.

A sheepish look appeared on Rarity's face."Ah yes, that. Well I was just working on my latest design when..."

Twenty minutes ago...

The element of generosity happily hummed to herself as she sowed the multitude of fabrics together. She was in a hurry, so the sowing machine was set at full power, which wasn't very safe. The mare was focused on her work. So much that she didn't notice her cat, pulling on some of the cloth to make herself a bedding. Little did the pet know, that the fabrics were ALREADY delicately balanced. The amount of items on the table, was a strain on the old table, that had been weakened on one side from the Cutie Mark Crusaders attempt at being carpenters again. Not only that, the window was cracked open, as a constant source of fresh air. The two were unaware of the gust of wind that was building.

Meanwhile a certain loopy eyed mailmare was on her way towards her next destination, package in hoof. Her grip on the box slipped, and it began to drop towards a nearby boutique. She raced after the item. When the pegasus managed to finally catch the package, the strong gust of wind was released, throwing her off balance. The imbalance sent her into the slightly open window to the boutique, slamming it shut.

The noise made from the collision startled the mare and cat inside. The cat jumped causing the already poorly balanced pile of fabrics to fall on the mare. The weight of both the unicorn and the cloth, made the tables left side legs give away, launching the sowing machine that was still on an unsafe setting and covered on cloth. The device hit the wall, and exploded into multiple pieces, which sent fabric this way and that, en wrapping Rarity in a web of cloth.

Present...

"Then I found myself tangled in as my supplies." The alabaster unicorn told her audience.

"Wow. Well anyways, Vova here needs a job." Vinyl stepped in.

"Oh I'm SO sorry, but I don't need any help right now. OH! But I do think you would make an excellent model." The fashionista, who had a certain glint in her eyes.

"RUN!" The other three mares yelled as they grabbed the artist and ran as fast as they could. Alas it wasn't enough, they were caught in the dress makers magical aura.

"Where do you think YOU'RE going?" Rarity asked playfully.

Half an hour later...

The four mares exited the boutique. They helped each other fix their manes.

"So now where?" Octavia asked. Arching an eyebrow.

"AJ always needs a helping hoof." Twilight suggested tapping her chin with a hoof.

"Then what are we waiting for? Lets go!" Vinyl shouted. And off they went.

They approached the farm, where the orange mare was busy applebucking.

"Hey AJ!" The librarian shouted to the farmer.

The stetson hat wearing mare turned and faced the group with a smile."Why hello!" She eyed the artistic mare, "Now who did ya'll bring?"

The cyan mare stepped forward, she was starting to get used to introducing herself.  "I'm Vova Lights, and I'm new around here."

The cowpony, took her hoof (much to the light blue mares surprise evidenced by the expression on her face) shook it. "Nice t' meetcha miss Vova. Ah'm Applejack."

Suddenly Vinyl (being her usual not very rude self) cut in saying, "You got a job for her?"

Octavia face hoofed and muttered something about manners. Twilight just shook her head.

After the surprise wore off,  the orange earth pony shook her head. "Aw shucks, We don't got th' extra bits t' pay ya. We could always use an extra hoof round here but we just don' got th' bits right now. Sorry." She replied.

A series of disappointed sighs emanated from the group.

"Oh well, thanks anyways AJ." Twilight told the farmer.

"Ah wish ah could help find you a job but ah gotta finish buckin these apples. Good luck!" Applejack waved a hoof then resumed her previous task.

"Don't worry, Vova there are plenty of shops in Ponyville. One of them is bound to have a job opening." The librarian said reassuringly. The other ponies nodded in agreement.

"Then what are we waiting for? Lets go!" Vinyl shouted.

And so the longest part of their morning began.

"I can't believe NOPONY had a job opening!!" The purple unicorn yelled in frustration.

It was noon, Celestia's sun was high in the sky, birds sung and a soft fresh cool breeze blew. All in all a beautiful day. Ponies went about their day around them, oblivious to their blight.

"What now?" The artist asked. In response, a loud growl sounded from their stomachs.

"Umm... Lunch? Sugarcube Corner?" The DJ suggested. The other three hastily agreed. They began their trek through the towns market place. Vendors lined the road. Their owners calling out for attention, and sales. Potential buyers busied about the area.

Straight ahead of the group was Sugarcube Corner. The towns premier confectionery shop. After a minute of sifting through the crowd the four mares made it to their destination.

They entered the confectionary shop and were greeted by one of the owners.

"Hi ,Mrs. Cake!" The bookish mare said. The one she was talking to was about to begin decorating a cake. One of those flat square ones.

"Who is this?" The baker asked.

Vova began to reply, but something caught her eye.

(Play this music now! While you read this. You might want to fast forward it about a minute or two, or three. Depends on your reading speed.)

The cake. It was white. Like a canvas. There were various tubes of frosting. Like paint brushes and paint.

"I'm Vova.." Her voice trailed off as she approached the table where it sat. Mrs. Cake began to say something but was cut off by Octavia and Vinyl. Both experienced in inspiration.

Vova approached the table and picked up one of the tubes in her magic. She drew a few lines on her canvas. The beginnings of a form. Now curves, then circles, squares. Her hoof was automatic. Controlled not by mind, but by heart.

The curves and shapes started to connect. To create the frame. Then another. And another. And another. Simple frames. Ready for the working.

Then more curves. More shapes. More circles and squares. It all flowed out of her. Straight to the surface of the cake.

The curves became features. Some became body parts. Soon after came the details. All coming together to make a single picture. One whole moment of pure heart and soul.

Then she pulled back and inspected her work.

Twilight, Vinyl, Octavia and her all with smiles.

The other three mares, came up behind her. She heard some gasp. She felt a tear flow down her cheek as a smile tugged at her muzzle.

"That was amazing. Miss Vova, would you like a job?" Mrs. Cake asked the artistic mare.