The Great Search for Pink Milk

I stared into the stream I had been sitting at since I arrived; the reflected creature stared back at me with his enlarged green eyes. Almost everything I had spent the last 12 years building was taken from me by those I saved in just a few seconds. Now through the combined powers of the Elders of Creation and the Solar Tree, I'm stuck here, millions of lightyears away from my home. Using my magic, I grew a tree on the other side of the stream to make sure I still had access to it. Though I should've figured I still had my magic as I already had my cutie mark, a dark purple leaf.

As I began moving away from the stream, I was lost in thought about what I would do now. I'm certainly not taking over the universe anytime soon, and I doubt that even if I had the necessary reagents to build a portal home, I wouldn't be able to muster the magic to power it. I will need to be analytical about this entire thing. I'll have to head to the nearest town to provide an excellent front to the locals, merely saying that I'm from a far-off country—definitely no shadow magic. There's no telling how they'd react to it, especially after what King Sombra did. Deciding to stick strictly to simple healing spells, I finally reach the closest town.

Arriving in the town, I immediately knew where I was; Ponyville. I must've been in the Everfree Forest before; the fact a timberwolf or manticore hadn't attacked me was a miracle. Though thinking about it a bit, they were probably afraid of me more than I was of them. I always assumed that Ponyville was a small and quiet town, but it certainly didn't seem like it today; everyone was outside, going about their business. It then dawned on me that this was Equestria, so there likely was a party going on. My theory was confirmed by the pink, vanilla icing-covered hoof that had spun me around to look at its owner.

"OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH! THREE NEW FRIENDS IN ONE DAY! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I GET TO THROW A WELCOME-TO-PONYVILLE PARTY FOR THREE! AHHHHH!" Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter herself, said before forming herself into a ball and bouncing herself halfway across town.

So Ponyville has seen an increase in new residents, and Pinkie still looked youthful, so I've been sent here before the final episode. At what point did two new ponies arrive? I'm fairly certain that Maud Pie and Mud Briar arrived in Ponyville separately. Whatever is being celebrated can't be big enough for a large influx of visitors if Pinkie is trying to throw parties for them. Though if she could, I'm sure she would.

So far, nobody has questioned my existence. Hopefully, I overreacted earlier and didn't need to provide a front to everyone else. I should be able to search for a way home in relative peace. I didn't want anyone to think I was a criminal or something of that sort, so I went to the town hall to speak with the mayor. Mostly, I'd just be asking questions about owning properties and living in the Everfree. Despite the inherent danger of living there, I can think of no better home for someone who draws power from nature.

I walked into the town hall and found that the place was decorated with pink ribbons wrapped neatly around columns and railings by the Element of Generosity. She stood in the center of the room, horn alight, tightening ribbons, and tying bows while humming peacefully to herself. I cleared my throat in the most polite way I possibly could to get her attention; I never was good in social situations.

"Oh terribly sorry darling, I was in--the zone." She said, turning to me with a smile. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I-I um ... was wondering if you've seen the Mayor; I'm new in town and was looking to move here." I've always hated direct speech; I'm much more comfortable with the loyalist tests back home.

"Why yes, of course. She's through the hallway to the left and three doors down." I thanked her and made my way down the hallway to the third door labeled 'Mayor's Office.' Attempting to be polite, I knocked on the door and waited for a reply. However, no answer ever came; pressing my equine ear to the door, I began hearing the faint sound of snoring. I let myself into her office.

Mayor Mare sat in an incredibly comfortable-looking chair, snoozing away. No matter which planet you go to, the politicians always seem to be incompetent, I thought to myself.I sneaked my way to her desk and quietly began looking through the drawers, searching for anything that could help me with my cover story. Inside them, I found a reference guide to the storage office mentioning a cabinet filled with residences whose ownership is debatable at best.

My thoughts turned back to Rarity in the lobby, making preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. At least, I think that's why she's decorating the town hall lobby. It would have to be considering the similarities between the decor from then and now. I know she doesn't like doing the same thing over and over, so she wouldn't just copy this town hall's decor from a prior one either. This means Princess Luna will come back and cause a bit of a stir-up later tonight. This will be the perfect time to wiggle my way into residency: nothing spectacular, just some random non-important unicorn minding his own business.

Once I made my way to the storage office, I found the cabinet containing the deeds and sifted through the many folders, and finally found one that fit. It wasn't inside the Everfree like I had hoped; at least it was close to it. A small patch of land belonged to a Lively Hollow just on the outside of town. Land that's right next to the Everfree Forest is usually considered a death trap by locals. Nobody's going to fact-check this, and I know the owner won't come knocking for such a small area. After a bit of forgery and some creativity, I had a birth certificate and a home in my name. Now it was just for a matter of 'lawfully' acquiring the deed.

I returned to the mayor and positioned myself to make it look like I'd come from the lobby and knocked loudly. That got her up, and I heard hoofsteps from the other side of the door. "Yes, please coming in. Don't mind the mess."

She said, still with some sleep in her eyes. It was nice of her to maintain the image of a hard-working mayor for a new-comer like me. "Hello, Ms. Mayor, My name is Lively Hollow, I've recently learned that I own land in Ponyville. I needed a change of pace and would like to move in." I said in a friendly, business casual manner.

"Yes, of course; please follow me over to the storage office, and we'll get you straightened out." We walked to the storage office, and I had to force myself not to start laughing and blowing my cover. She pulled out the deed and sat down at a nearby table.

"Now I just need to see your birth certificate, and we can sign over the papers.''' I passed my fake birth certificate to her. I sat in front of her desk as she scratched away with a quill on paper.

"Alright, Mr. Hollow, everything seems to be in order." She passed the deed back to me; I legally owned land in Equestria now. Strangely, this is a beautiful feeling. You'd think someone who owns plenty of property all over the universe wouldn't care, but to have a claim to Equestria, I had butterflies in my stomach.

"Thank you, mayor; I'll go get started moving in straight away." I must've had the biggest grin on my face; I just took my own land. Usually, it's Mother who takes land either through deception or violence, but this time it was all me. I was actually kind of proud of myself.

"Don't forget to stay up to watch the sunrise tomorrow; the entire town will be gathering here for it."

This was my chance to see if this was the Summer Sun Celebration. " Sunrise? Is something going on?" I said, a bit of confusion in my voice.

"It's the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration; The princess will be here tonight." That settled it; I am at the start of the show.

I certainly had no intention of showing up for the party with so much work to do, so I said. "I'll be there."

Lively Hollow's home was located about 50 feet away from the Everfree proper. It provided a good deal of cover from the townsfolk with the surrounding trees. With no house on the lot, I went with a standardized home that every adept wizard learned back in college (as long as they grease the palms of the professors.)—the Elemental Home Spell. Sure, it meant that we all essentially had the same house, but we all need a place to rest after long days of research, study, and experimentation. The elemental earth home was a simple oak tree carved out into a seven-room two-story house. Upon entering, the indescribable scent of home reminded me of what I fought for and what had brought me here, I will return home; I will have my revenge.